DIVISION 1
LABOR REP. PENDING
JON MCLINN DIVISION CHIEF
Firefighter Nick McAtee discusses the importance of wearing
seatbelts during a recent Open House at station 71.
BY: BRENTON BAUM
Division 1 had a busy few months that included several infrequent incident types during which personnel performed exceptionally.
Through flash floods, confined space entries and multi-alarm incidents, Division 1 personnel rose to and met the challenges.
Additionally, the entire division was happy to welcome Captain Andy Shipway back to work following his cancer treatment.
MAJOR INCIDENTS
In early August, County Fire responded to two mountain communities during an almost
unprecedented downpour that caused flash floods and massive mud slides. In Mt.
Baldy, the incident claimed the life of one motorist whose vehicle was overwhelmed by
the torrent of mud and debris. In Forest Falls, meanwhile, there were initially several
reports of people missing and/or trapped in raging floodwaters, but those reports were
determined to be unfounded. The swift water rescue team from Division 1 did respond
from Fontana and performed a couple of rescue assists, but no major injuries were
reported. Also, crews from Forest Falls Station 99 assisted one disabled victim who
had been stranded inside his house as floodwaters rose. A door-to-door survey was
completed on foot by paid-call firefighters and the local CERT members. County Fire
hand crews responded to both
communities to assist with
the massive cleanup effort.
Ultimately, the mudslides
caused widespread damage to
both mountain communities,
as well as several other
areas in the valley, and the
incident received local,
regional and national
media attention. Numerous
cooperating agencies and
departments worked together
2nd District Supervisor Janice Rutherford meets with
to keep human casualties to a
members of Crew 6-1 during the Mt. Baldy Floods.
minimum.
In mid-August SBCoFD’s Urban Search and Rescue team from Division 1 was
requested by San Bernardino County Sheriff to assist with a body recovery in Joshua
Tree National Park. A body had been discovered by the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue
team at the bottom of a mine shaft, but due to the toxicity of the environment they
were unable to complete the recovery themselves. Rescue company 72 responded
and ultimately made two separate confined space entries in order to gather evidence
and recover the body. The recovery required working off a high-angle main line while
utilizing the supplied air breathing apparatus (SABA) due to the hazardous atmospheric
environment. With extreme heat and dire working conditions, entrants were limited to
about 20 minutes each in the 90 foot-deep shaft. One firefighter suffered minor injuries
during the entrance, but overall the recovery was completed without major incident.
On September 14th Fontana had another large pallet yard fire that required a thirdalarm response, along with an inmate hand crew and county fire’s dozer. Engines
from Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, and Rialto also assisted with the extinguishment,
which encompassed approximately 2.5 acres. Total loss was about $1 million, but it is
estimated that County Fire’s efforts saved over $5 million in property loss.
10 FIREWIRE | VOL.4
STATION EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL MOVES
In August the division and many of its personnel underwent a major reshuffle, as
the long-rumored, long-discussed transfer of the tiller truck from Station 77 to
Station 71 finally took place. This move had a ripple effect on a number of levels,
and some of the changes are still being worked out. For starters, the move lifted
71’s daily roster population to 10 firefighters—all career personnel—making the
John B. Roberts Fire Station the county’s largest. Crews will rotate between the
three-person engine and four-person ladder truck, while the paramedics will also
each have rotations on the squad. This configuration achieves the goal of having
the tiller, while still an ALS-level apparatus, centralized in the city and dedicated to
major fire, rescue or traffic calls (as well as public service and other non-medical
incidents). Of course with 10 firefighters jaw-jacking at the morning coffee table
and evening card game, this is no house for the thin-skinned! Further, when Tower
5 releases its trainees to the floor, each shift at 71 will have an open spot held for
a probationary firefighter.
Meanwhile, the tiller’s move left Station 77 with a giant opening in its apparatus bay,
which was soon filled by the ladder truck that had been operating for years out of
Station 78. That station transitioned to a three-person engine company to go along
with its squad, while 77’s remained a truck-and-squad house. Two department-wide
transfer bids accompanied the moves, which allowed members to apply to either
stay with the tiller as it made its move o