Fire Brigade News
I had a request to put the date along with my article, apparently there was some confusion as to what month I was writing about. I am writing about events that happened in March this month. Also there have been questions about the call response sheet that comes out a month behind. For example, the month of March is not over when the Round Up report is due, so I have to wait to submit it for the April issue, which causes the March call response report to be in the May issue.
We had a great 2 day foam training last month. Foam can “stretch” our water as much as two to three times. On our new engines we have the capability of water, foam and CAF, (compressed air foam). You can have the consistency come out thick, thin, or as puffy as soap suds depending on what you are using it for. It looked like winter in the mid west with all our white foam on the ground. We also practiced on a burn pile and the fire goes out much faster with the foam. As water is always in short supply this is a great resource to have access to.
We are continuing with our leadership training with Ann Simmons and we have completed 6 classes now with 2 more remaining that we will take in May.
The Brigade welcomes Dick Ravich as the most recent Big Sur resident to join our Board. Dick is also a CERT member, a ham radio operator and now is attending the meetings for the writing of the County CWPP, (Community Wildfire Protection Plan). Our goal is to have our own Big Sur WPP be a part of the County plan. Other areas like Cachagua are working on their own plans as well.
By the time you read this our VFF (Volunteer firefighter) class will have started, we have about 12 of our own new members ready to start the class. Classes will be once a week, (occasionally twice) and it will run through the end of May.
We are still waiting to plan our annual BBQ, the news from the Park is not encouraging, maybe by July we could get in there. We will keep everyone posted.
Some of you may have seen our brand new command pick up out and about on the road. It was purchased with a grant request from the Community Foundation, and all the radios, light bar and striping were donated by North Tree Fire. We plan to put a slip on, (a water tank) and pump in the back, so it will have the capability to pump water. It made much more sense to get a truck instead of a SUV that had no water carrying capabilities.
Remember that at the end of April, BURN SEASON WILL END!!! There will be no more burning until December. So hurry up and get out there and get your clearing done if you plan to burn.
Martha Karstens
Administrator