Third Quarter (July-September) 2016 We fulfill our mission by living our core values: rofessionalism espect mage iscipline fficiency Welcome to the third quarter newsletter from Humboldt Bay Fire. It is amazing how quickly we moved through the summer, and are now in the fall season with rain on the horizon and cooler temperatures on the way. I am happy to say that beginning July 1st we were able to again open Fire Station 4, at Myrtle Avenue and Cousins Street, on a full time basis. The station will be staffed either with a squad with two people, or an engine with three people, depending upon available staffing. The summer and fall months between July and October are typically the months where California experiences some of its most devastating wildfire activity, and 2016 has held true. Though much of California experienced significant rains during the spring, the summer presented many challenges. Fire season started in June in southern California, and then marched north. The winter and spring rains added significantly to the grass crop across the state, adding fuel to an already critical situation created by multiple years of drought, coupled with a significant tree bug-kill situation across the Sierras and Southern California. It is estimated that there are approximately 66 million dead trees in California that provide an immense amount of fuel for wildfires. Humboldt Bay Fire assisted initially by providing a wildland engine and crew to help CALFIRE cover local fire stations in the Humboldt/Del Norte ranger unit. On July 24th, the Soberanes Fire began in the Big Sur area. Two engines and two strike team leaders from Humboldt Bay Fire, along with engines from Fortuna Fire, Blue Lake Fire and Briceland Fire answered the call and were sent south to assist with the suppression efforts. It was 21 days before that strike team returned home. Crews assisted with protection of homes in the area, constructed fire control lines, and “mopped up” fire areas to make sure all active and smoldering fire was extinguished. The Soberanes Fire is still burning today, and has become the most costly fire to suppress in history. Following the return of those units, Humboldt Bay Fire again answered the call to assist CALFIRE with local station coverage when they sent units out of the area for other fires. Our coverage unit was part of the initial attack crew that responded to the Tully Fire in the Pecwan area in August that burned almost 600 acres. Due to full commitment of available resources in the CALFIRE stations, Humboldt Bay Fire provided a second engine to help cover. This unit was one of only two local government engines covering CALFIRE stations the first night of the Tully Fire as CALFIRE moved out of area crews into Humboldt. During August, our area was registering fuel moistures (the moisture content present in various fuels including grasses, stick, and log sized fuels) that were typically observed in a dry October. This meant that fire danger and conditions were very high and dangerous. On September 11th, members of Humboldt Bay Fire participated in 9-11 memorial stair climbs in Sacramento and San Diego. Personnel did this on their own, at their own cost. The stair climbs represent and pay tribute to, the fallen 343 FDNY firefighters lost at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Each member participating carried the name and information about one of the firefighters who perished that day. Thank you all for your participation, and we must make sure that we never forget… As we closed out September, Humboldt Bay Fire was still providing station coverage assisting CALFIRE. I want to say thank you to all members of our department at all levels who assisted with these wildland assignments, either out on the assignment, or maintaining coverage back at home keeping our stations staffed. I recognize the impact to our personnel and their families, but am proud that we can help out our neighbors in times of need. Fall rains are forecast for the beginning of October, but that does not spell the end of fire season in California. October is typically one of the worst months for fire loss, as we normally see the Santa Ana winds develop and extend into November. We all need to be mindful and safe and remember that fire season has not ended yet. With fall rapidly approaching and cooler nighttime temperatures here, we remind our community to be safe with the use of heaters and wood stoves. Humboldt Bay Fire responds each year to fires that result from chairs, sofas, and other combustibles too close to heaters or stoves, and from items being placed on floor furnaces or heaters. These items are often placed there in the summer when the heater isn’t running, and can easily be forgotten in the fall. A thermostat turned all the way down does not necessarily turn the heating device off; it still comes on when the temperature drops low enough. With fall also come wet roads, and the need for all of us to slow down and drive for the conditions. Before I close, I want to remind everyone that Humboldt Bay Fire will be hosting our Open House on Saturday, October 15th at Fire Station 1, 533 C Street in Eureka. We will be open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and will have station tours, various safety displays, and demonstrations of our 1904 steam fire engine, Tiller ladder truck, and vehicle extrication. Hope to see you there! I will close my message on a somber note. Late September saw the loss of a local Fire Captain, Tim Smith, of Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department. Captain Smith is a huge loss to Fortuna Fire and the members of their community, and a loss for the local fire service. Captain Smith was a regular participant on wildland strike teams, and had participated in last year’s Valley Fire in Lake County, and this year’s Soberanes Fire in Big Sur. Captain Smith also was part of the response team to Eureka for the Fourth Street Fire on the morning of June 3rd, 2016. Captain Smith, his family, and Fortuna Fire are in the thoughts of the men and women of Humboldt Bay Fire. Bill Gillespie Fire Chief Response Statistics Structure Fire/Explosion 16 Vehicle Fire 5 Rubbish/ Vegetation Fire 68 Medical Aid Response 859 Extrication/Water Rescue 6 Animal Control 0 Haz Mat/Combustible Spill 20 Other Hazards Response 14 Other/Service Call/False Alarm 541 Second Quarter Total 1,529 2016 YTD Total 4,685 Hello, my name is Sean Robertson. I was born and raised in South Africa where my family has lived for many generations. I moved to California twenty years ago to follow my wife Rebecca, whom I’ve been married to since then! She is from the Bay Area. We moved to Arcata to attend HSU and I joined the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department. After my first structure fire I decided this was the career for me! Over a year’s time I received my EMT and Firefighter 1 certificates while going to school full-time. Eureka Fire was hiring and I decided to apply with no expectation of it going anywhere. I had a seasonal job with Cal Fire, which was called CDF at the time. While at work one day I received a call from Eureka Fire Marshal Altizer at the Fortuna Forestry Station inviting me to an interview with Eureka. After the interview I was very surprised to be given a conditional offer of employment. It was quite a journey to become a Eureka Fireman!! That was in 1998 and it is incredible to think I have been with this organization for almost 20 years. During that time I have held the ranks of Engineer, Captain, Captain II and Battalion Chief. I have been the Training Officer for the last 4 years and became the A-shift BC this year. As the Training Officer and a shift Battalion Chief I am responsible for all aspects of development, management and instruction of the training program and also conduct and facilitate department-related leadership development for our Command staff. I am also responsible for all recruitment, hiring and promotional testing and processes; and oversee our Volunteer Firefighter Program and Wellness Program. This is in addition to the usual shift BC tasks of staffing, incident response, logistics, leadership and maintenance of operations. Work is very busy for me but I love the challenge and ability to serve our members and community. I am a member of the Haz Mat Response Team, an instructor for various classes and programs in the county and the Secretary of the Humboldt County Training Instructors Association. I love living in Humboldt and spend much of my time off exploring it by bicycle. I have two teenage sons who are growing up too quickly and enjoy living in our beautiful area, riding Come join us for a lot of fun at our annual Open House, Saturday, October 15th from 10 – 3 at our HBF Fire Station 1 located at 533 C Street. Watch firefighters fire up the 1904 steam fire engine, perform rescue demonstrations, and much more. Tour the station and learn important life saving fire prevention tips! Enjoy interactive activities, FREE raffles, refreshments and a chance to hang out with HBF Firefighters! Hope to see you on the 15th! Remember, smoke alarms save lives; be sure to replace your battery to keep your family protected! As our student athletes return to the field, Humboldt Bay Fire personnel are hopeful that they have a safe school year with a winning season and no injuries.