FIREWIRE Magazine Fall 2014 | Page 26

OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL CERS and the Emergency Response Model PFAL Victorville Police and Fire Activities League By Joe Zuccaro, Fire Prevention Supervisor The Victorville Police and Fire Activities League (PFAL) is a program for youth 12-18 years old that provides adult mentorship in a boxing and physical fitness-based environment. PFAL was the culmination of ideas between former Victorville Police Chief Cliff Reynolds and former Victorville Division Chief Sid Hultquist and is supported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Fire, and the City of Victorville. PFAL kicked off January 2011 under the coaching eyes of Fire Prevention Supervisor Joe Zuccaro and County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Sheriff Paul Gallant. Today Zuccaro is still overseeing the program with Deputy Marvin Wilke and County Fire Hazardous Materials Specialist Jose May. Several Citizens on Patrol (COP) volunteers also assist with the program. The boxing gym is provided by the City of Victorville, located at the Victorville City Yard property across from the police station. Approximately 50 kids are enrolled in the PFAL program. PFAL is a 501.3(c) nonprofit entity chartered under the umbrella of the national Police Activities League (PAL) and is quite probably the only combined police and fire group in the PAL system. PFAL meets Monday and Wednesday evenings, usually for a bit over two hours. A typical day involves the kids (and adults!) running two to three miles, followed by 30 minutes of intense cardio workout (circuit training, sprints, Insanity video, calisthenics, etc.). The remainder of the [YH\