Flowchart (PDF)

On January 1, 2010, the Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove entered into a joint exercise of powers agreement for management and delivery of fire protection and emergency medical services.

Under this agreement, the shared management team, known as “Heartland Fire & Rescue” provides management for the three cities. The management team includes a fire chief, assistant chief, three deputy fire chiefs, three division chiefs, three battalion chiefs and four support staff.

This unique cooperative fire services agreement provides cost containment opportunities, maintains local control, ensures a high level of fire and emergency medical services delivery and maximizes resource utilization.

This cooperative service manages eight fire stations, nine engine companies, two truck companies, three paramedic transport units and one battalion chief. The joint powers agreement serves a population of 180,000 and responds to approximately 18,000 calls for service each year.

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You are invited to join the California Highway Patrol, environmental, and fire prevention advocates at the launch of a newly upgraded Cigarette Litter Hotline, “Hold on to your Butt.” This is a public education campaign focused on holding accountable smokers who toss their cigarette butts out of the vehicles while navigating San Diego County’s highways.

This program will empower San Diegans to report smokers who illegally discard their cigarettes on the roadways. Utilizing a toll-free hotline, 1-877-211-2888 (BUTT), San Diegans will be able to record the date, time, and place of the littering, along with the license plate number of observed cigarette litterbugs. Drawing from the information recorded by concerned motorists, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Border Division will send warning letters, on CHP stationary, to tobacco litter offenders.

DID YOU KNOW: Worldwide, an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are tossed out daily and are the most littered item in the United States. Butts discarded on sidewalks and streets eventually end up in storm drains, which flow into the ocean. When the butts get wet from contact with a body of water, toxins gathered by the filter are released. This threatens the quality of the water and many forms of aquatic life.  In addition, littered cigarette butts are a fire risk and have caused significant wildfires in the past.

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Are you prepared for a disaster?  Earthquake or firestorm? Consider attending a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academy.

Note: Due to a tremendous response, our two East County CERT academies for 2010 are now full – thank you!
 

What is CERT? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and the hazards that may impact the area they live. These FREE CERT lessons will train you in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training taught in the classroom and during drill exercises, CERT members will be better prepared to also assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following a disaster or other unexpected event when professional responders are not immediately available.

Or Click here for more on the CERT program: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/about.shtm

Check with the San Diego Office of Emergency services for more CERT programs around the county.  Click on the following link:

http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/community/oes_jl_CERT.html

The American Red Cross also offer free training. Click on the following link:

http://www.sdarc.org

Here is the schedule for those who are officially registered for the following 2010 East County CERT classes:

2010 East County CERT Schedule

Academy – #1 – FULL

February 6 – Disaster preparedness/CERT organization

February 20 – Disaster Medical/ Triage

March 6 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue classroom

March 20 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue hands on – *At HTF

April 3 – Disaster Psychology/ Haz-Mat/ Terrorism

April 17 – All inclusive manipulative/ review – *At HTF

Academy – #2 – FULL – updated information for June 5th

May 22 – Disaster preparedness/CERT organization

June 5 – Disaster Medical/ Triage – *Class at HTF, Classroom B

June 19 – Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue classroom – (two week break)

July 10 – Fire Extinguishers/Light Search and Rescue hands on – *At HTF

July 24 – Disaster Psychology/ Haz-Mat/ Terrorism

August 7 – All inclusive manipulative/ review – *At HTF

These classes are held on Saturday mornings from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Class location for “registered” CERT students is at the Fire Administration offices at 8054 Allison Avenue, in La Mesa.   *The HTF location is 1301 N. Marshal in El Cajon for the hands-on training.

If you would like to place your name on a waiting list please call (619) 441-1737…we may consider adding a 3rd academy later in the year. Please leave your name and best contact phone number.

*Classes are limited to 30 participants per academy, ages 16 and up. Please, for safety concerns, we ask you do not bring babies or children to these classes. Any classes missed may be made up during the following academy. Classes are taught by members of Heartland Fire & Rescue, and Santee Fire Departments.

Read on for more information on what to bring to these “free” disaster preparedness training classes.

• East County CERT Academies are six (6) classes, every other week for twelve (12) weeks.
• For the first class please bring your own 1-1/2″ binder to the class for your CERT manual.
• Dress casually – certain classes may get you a little dirty – we’ll let you know which. Please, always wear sturdy shoes or wear tennis shoes – NO opened toed shoes, flip-flops or sandals please. Please bring a pair for good work gloves and please bring your own snacks/food & beverages. (like coffee, juice or water)
• We’d like to limit our classes to about 35 per academy, it’s for ages 16 and up – non residents are welcome. Please, for safety concerns, we ask you do not bring babies or children to our classes. Any classes missed may be made up during the following academy.
• Our classes are taught by members of the El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee Fire Departments.
• Please Note – our classes have been in big demand and are open to those serious about being prepared for a disaster, so if you register – please show up. If you have registered for a class and find you cannot make it please call so someone else can take your place – thank you.

*Since our next CERT academy is not until February of 2011 – please check with the local American Red Cross, they also offer “free” disaster preparedness classes.

Learn how to better protect yourself and your family.  These classes are free - but what you’ll learn is priceless!

• There are several other CERT programs available in the county! Click here – CERT Council for a complete list of other CERT programs.
• A Teen CERT program is being offered.  For information please call (760) 310-0976 or 0206.

• CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team, a disaster preparedness class. Until you can take one of our academies please take a look at the disaster preparedness section of this website for valuable links on disaster preparedness.

For other CERT Program locations in San Diego County visit San Diego County CERT Programs

• If you would like disaster preparedness information now – please visit 72hours.org
• Most recent earthquake activity? Click here: http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/quakes0.htm

What is CERT? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and the hazards that may impact the area they live. These FREE CERT lessons will train you in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training taught in the classroom and during drill exercises, CERT members will be better prepared to also assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following a disaster or other unexpected event when professional responders are not immediately available.
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Additional CERT Academies:
• Other CERT programs in the East County: The San Miguel Fire Department now have a CERT program in the Rancho San Diego area recently – you can call them at (619) 670-0500 for more information. There is another CERT program in Lakeside at (619) 390-2350.
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CERT Hazard Plans – How to handle: “Tsunamis”
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Additional Disaster Information: From Fed Health – FED HEALTH
Disaster Supplies: American Red Cross – American Red Cross – San Diego
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•Congratulations CERT Team Members for a great Earthquake Drill held June 19th at New Frontier Mobile Home Community – See the article in the Union Tribune: East County CERT Holds Earthquake Drill June 19th, 2004
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CERT is an excellent opportunity to learn many important life saving skills to better protect yourself, your family and your neighbors in the event of most disasters. This translates into saved lives and less panic.
CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

Check the CERT Homepage from FEMA:
CERT Homepage
Take a look at the Los Angeles CERT Program:
www.cert-la.com

What Is CERT?
(CERT) The Community Emergency Response Team program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.
The CERT course is taught in the community by a trained team of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI), located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue operations.
Over the next two years, the CERT program aims to double the number of participants, with over 400,000 individuals completing the 20 plus hours of training. Train-the-Trainer sessions will be held in all 56 states and territories over the next year to expand the program throughout the United States.

Q: Why take the CERT training?
A: Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, there are emergencies and disaster that can overwhelm the community immediate response capability. While adjacent jurisdictions, State and Federal resources can activate to help, there may be a delay for them getting to those who need help. The primary reason for CERT training is to give people the decision-making and physical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors, and associates. While people will respond to others in need without the training, the goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

A success story about CERTs comes during the wildfires in Florida. The Edgewater CERT helped emergency management and the fire department by assisting with evacuations, handling donations, preparing food for firefighters, and answering the phone while the professionals were fighting the fire. It is a great example of CERT members and response personnel working together for the benefit of the community.

Q: How do CERT members maintain their skills?
A: CERT members and the sponsor work together to maintain team skills. It is suggested that the sponsor conduct refresher classes and an annual exercise where all CERT members are invited to participate. Some response agencies have conducted joint exercises with CERT team and operate as they would during an actual disaster. The last point does bring up a lesson learned. Besides training CERT members, it is also important to train members of response agencies about CERTs, the skills that teams have and the role that they will have during a major disaster. One way to develop this trust is by encouraging agency personnel to participate in classes as instructors and coaches and activities involving CERTs.

Understanding that CERTs may operate independently following a disaster. CERTs can practice this independence by taking some responsibility for their training. Teams can design activities and exercises for themselves and with other teams. Some members can be rescuers, some victims, and some evaluators. After the event, there can be a social so that teams get to know each other
Q: What if I want to do more than just the basic training?
A: CERT members may attend classes provided by the community agencies on animal care, special needs concerns, debris removal, utilities control, advanced first aid, Automatic External Defibrillator use, CPR skills, and others.

CERT members are a potential volunteer pool for the community. They can help with special projects like distributing preparedness material, staffing medical booths during special events, and assisting with installation of smoke alarms for seniors or special needs households. Some CERT members have sought additional training opportunities in shelter management, community relations, and donations management.

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In November of 2009, the City Managers of the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove announced the appointment of the Fire Chief to oversee operations of the cooperative management services for the three fire and rescue departments as they officially merged on January 1, 2010.  Mike Scott, who was then the Fire Chief in El Cajon, will now head the new command called “Heartland Fire & Rescue.”

In October of 2009,  the City Councils approved the Joint Powers Agreement that created a single management team to oversee the day-to-day operations of the three fire departments.

The City Managers sought an individual from within the three organizations able to perpetuate the work started in preparation for the coordinated services. In this situation, the City Managers felt it was important to continue the momentum while at the same time being aware of the history and partnering that brought them to this point.

Mike Scott had been the Fire Chief in El Cajon since June 2005. He began his career with the department in 1984 as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Chief Scott is currently the Chair of the Board of Chiefs for the Heartland Training Facility Authority and the Heartland Communications Authority. These Joint Powers Authorities serve multiple cities. He is also the Zone 4 Coordinator for the Heartland Fire District.

Chief Scott said following the announcement, “I am honored to be selected to lead this cooperative effort of fire and emergency medical services delivery. We have three great organizations that will now operate as one. The result will be an improved level of coordination of service on a regional level, ultimately benefiting each of our communities.”

El Cajon City Manager Kathi Henry said that Mike is a capable leader with a proven track record. “There is no doubt that he has the skills necessary to take us in a positive direction”. Henry said. “He is both visionary and practical which makes him the perfect choice for this position.”

La Mesa City Manager, Sandy Kerl and Lemon Grove City Manager Graham Mitchell have worked closely with Chief Scott over the past several months while developing the Joint Powers Agreement. La Mesa City Manager Sandra Kerl said, “Chief Scott is a proven leader in the fire profession, particularly in East County, and has the skills and abilities to make this unique fire service model work successfully”. Graham Mitchell indicated that he looks forward to working with Chief Scott in this exciting time to provide even better service to the community through a cooperative approach.

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A few months ago, El Cajon Fire Captain Dave Rickards sent a group of Army Rangers based in Iraq the department’s Breast Cancer Awareness shirts. Through a mutual friend, Captain Rickards was able to send this care package of shirts along with some other items in a gesture to show support for our troops fighting in the Middle East.

According to Captain Rickards, “Members of the El Cajon Fire Department are proud to wear their department logos with the pink lettering, showing their support in the fight against breast cancer. Sharing that pride with our troops is an honor.”

According to the troops pictured, they were really excited to get the T-shirts. The package contained the navy blue fire department t-shirts with pick lettering, and additional pink t-shirts. When they received the package some of the guys were a little uncomfortable wearing pink t-shirts but they finally warmed up to the idea and took the picture. The men featured in the attached photograph are all medics currently stationed in Iraq for a 15-month tour; attached to the 3rd Infantry.

El Cajon Fire Captain Dave Rickards Wearing Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Shirt

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Disaster Preparedness websites at your fingertips…

From the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services – Ready San Diego – Earthquake Preparedness: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/family/

• For Seniors: Disaster Preparedness – Get Ready Seniors!
• And for Kids visit – Ready Kids
• FEMA – For Kids Website – FEMA For Kids – click here

More:

• Avoiding Earthquake Damage – Homeowners Checklist
• (6/20/08) – A disaster preparedness handbook from the Home Safety Council: Home Safety Council “new” Disaster Preparedness Handbook
• From the American Red Cross visit – Red Cross Disaster Preparedness guide.
  For more disaster preparedness for Seniors from the American Red Cross click here: Disaster Preparedness for Seniors.
• It’s all about being prepared! Visit this great informative website covering numerous areas of safety & preparedness. www.prepare4.org
• From Ready America!
  Parents – Ready America For overall disaster preparedness for you and your family.

*You can alsDisaster Preparedness Information from Fireman’s Fund:
Fireman’s Fund

*Visit our Fire Station Open House on October 9th, 2010 – 10:00am to 2:00pm, at 100 E. Lexington to pick up valuable safety and disaster preparedness information.

If you’d like printed information, or would like to request a lecture on disaster preparedness please call Safety Educator Monica Zech at (619) 441-1737.

Be safe!

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The Burn Institute and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs’ Association would like to remind everyone that whenever we have a time change, also take a moment to change your smoke alarm batteries.

It could save a life!   The last time change was Daylight Saving Time  on Sunday, November 1.  Did you change your smoke alarm batteries too???

WHY? Having a ”working” smoke alarm cuts your chances of dying in a house fire by 50% percent!

Note: If you are 55 years or older, own your own home, live within San Diego County and do not have a working smoking alarm, you qualify for a FREE smoke alarm installation. This popular program takes place year-round. To schedule an appointment, contact Gwen Lammers at the Burn Institute, (858) 541-2277.

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