Peninsula fire crews battle Carr Fire
The Peninsula Fire Protection District (PFPD) board had a little more than the usual business items to discuss at their Aug. 15 meeting at Fire Station #2.
The focal business item was during Chief Gary Pini’s report that included a proposal to replace the two old defibrillation units currently in the ambulances with new, upgraded models.
He said the ones now being used are well over 10 years old and lack many of the new features that have been added during that time period.
The new defibrillation units can automatically diagnose a life threatening cardiac arrhythmias or ventricular fibrillation and treat them through defibrillation.
Defibrillation is simply the application of electricity, which stops the arrhythmia and allows the heart to reestablish its own normal rhythm.
It was emphasized that these are not the typical Automated Electronic Defibrillation (AED) units that might be seen in many locations; these are similar to what you would find in a hospital emergency room, only more portable and that is why each new unit costs around $35,000.
The consensus was that the department would try to replace them one at a time using funds from the Firemen’s Association, The Fire Sirens and the District along with any grants or donations they might be able to acquire.
Historically, most of the responses by local fire districts are for medical aid making these units a very important tool for the welfare of the population.
To that end, Pini reminds everyone that the Fire Sirens Thrift Store, which is a constant source of revenue for the department, is open Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The chief also reported that the district’s OES Engine had just returned home after 21 days of service on the Carr Fire.
One four-person crew was deployed with the engine on July 25 and they were relieved after 15 days by a second crew.
Their deployment to the fire was for structure protection in an area on the western edge of Redding south of State Route 299.
The chief read a letter from one family whose home was saved as a result of their efforts.
It was addressed to: Our Forever Hero Firefighters and in part said, “We are still in shock that our home is still standing and undamaged. I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to meet and hug you in person. You brought us a lot of joy during a difficult time and gave me peace at being back home.”
These were the thoughts of gratitude from the Brad and Betsy Fowers family who live just west of Redding.
To date there have been more than 214,000 acres burned and 1,077 residences destroyed by the Carr Fire.
There have been over 3,800 fire personnel deployed on this fire and three lost their lives in the attempt to stop the inferno.
There are a bunch of local Forest Service Firefighters that went down there as well. Only difference is they didn’t take a bunch of pictures. They see this same thing every summer. Same thing, different community. Incidents like this may seem very ‘crazy’ to volunteers that staff OES trucks, but this has become the norm for federal land management agencies.