• October 5–11, 2008 ~ Fire Prevention Week
  Escondido Public Library
  239 South Kalmia Street

Display.

• October 19, 2008 ~ Escondido Street Faire Display
  Broadway, just south of Valley Parkway
  9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Engine and equipment displays, information.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

October 7, 2008

Dear Resident:

In a recent mailer to residents of Escondido the Escondido Firefighters Political Action Committee (PAC) issued dire warnings that recent "dangerous changes" in fire department staffing would adversely affect public safety. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Let me begin by saying Escondido's safety is not in jeopardy. No firefighters have been laid off and staffing levels will remain the same as last year. What we ARE doing is restructuring our EMS delivery system and instead of new employees, we are staffing the new station 7 by redistributing existing personnel. By doing so, our staffing will still exceed the County Emergency Medical Services Division requirements for paramedics. While we have chosen to temporarily freeze the hiring of three additional firefighters to staff our ladder truck our staffing of fire engines and trucks will be at the same level of many other local fire agencies.

Currently Escondido's response times are faster than many communities within this region. With the opening of Fire Stations 6 and 7 in November and relocating 2 existing engines, we actually will improve response time even more. These stations and engines will provide faster response times to calls for service and provide a better distribution and concentration of resources in critical core areas of the City. We are still able to provide advanced life support medical treatment and transport of critical medical patients.

I regret that the public has been drawn into what is essentially a labor dispute. After 30 years in the fire service, I assure you that I would never approve any operational changes that would jeopardize the safety of residents or fire personnel. I would never compromise the community's faith and trust in me and the Escondido Fire Department.

Sincerely,

Vic Reed
Fire Chief

February 21, 2008

A Promotional Ceremony and Employee/Volunteer Recognition Event held on February 21, 2008 acknowledged the following:

Promotions

Russell Knowles to Battalion Chief
David Loop to Captain
Joe Portman to Engineer
La Vona Boyer to Administrative Assistant

New Employees

Jacob Herchert, EMT
Charles Kelly, EMT
George Williams, EMT
Chuck Milks, Emergency Management Coordinator

Senior Volunteers – 1st Anniversary

November 1, 2007

A Promotional Ceremony and Employee Recognition Event acknowledged the following:

Promotions

Dominick Arena to Division Chief
Randy Brookes to Battalion Chief
Phil Williams to Captain

New Employees

Benjamin Lian, Firefighter/Paramedic
Scott Lofvendahl, Firefighter/Paramedic

August 3, 2007

A Promotional Ceremony and Employee Recognition Event acknowledged the following:

Promotions

Pete Montgomery to Battalion Chief
John Fryday to Captain
Nikos Wizner to Engineer
Shaun Skelton to Firefighter/Paramedic
La Vona Boyer to Department Specialist/Administrative Aide

New Employees

Travis Johnson, Firefighter/Paramedic
Jeremy Frasca, EMT
Alphonso Dobynes, Fire Prevention Specialist/Inspector
Tod Switzer, Department Specialist/Inspector
Joshua Camacho, Department Specialist/Hydrant Maintenance

Employee Recognition

Project Recognition:
Pumper Fabrication – Ken Burris and Jeff Ratliff
Construction Projects – Dennis Boyer, John Fryday, Art Holcomb, Andre Paredes, and Jeff Sargis

February 26, 2007

A Promotional Ceremony and Employee/Volunteer Recognition Event acknowledged the following:

New Employees

Edward Tiet, EMT
Matthew Fiske, EMT
Nicole Gillum, EMT

First Senior Volunteer Academy Graduates

Edward Bostic
Robert Cleverly
Bob Faulkner
Dave Foxworth
Robert Givens
Warren Johnson
Robert Kargoll
John Kristensen
Barb Langa
Gerald Latimer
Tom Leonard
Rex Little
Samuel McClung
Gerry Robinson
Robert Schulken
Karen Stephens
Richard Truman
Joe Wolowsky