The volunteers of the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, March 2001.
PMVFD Mission Statement:
The Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department dedicates itself to
providing a professional service that protects life and property and
preserves the Palomar Mountain quality of life.
I have reviewed the resumes of many of the current members of the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department and found that Cliff has the skills needed to be a company officer. I find that Cliff has stellar people skills, a good background in firefighting and has earned the respect of the fire department and the entire community of Palomar Mountain.
His record of attendance and availability coupled with his passion to serve makes me believe that he is the man for the job.
Please welcome Cliff Kellogg as the new Palomar Mountain Fire Captain.
Yours in safety,
George E. Lucia, Sr.
Fire Chief
Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department
Fire Station 97 @ 760.742.3701
Home @ 760.742.1423
Cell @ 760.644.9933
E-Mail via Blackberry george.lucia@nextel.blackberry.net
The PMVFD receives a small amount of property tax funding. This property tax funding began when the community in 1984 asked the Board of Supervisors to create a County Service Area (CSA), by which to help fund the department. The Board of Supervisors agreed and began transferring a small amount of the property tax that was already being collected to the PMVFD. In 1984, the department received about $13,000 in property tax funding. This year (FY 2002-2003), the department received $22,007. Again, this money comes to the department from the property tax that would be collected whether or not the PMVFD existed.
This is how the PMVFD' operating income looks this fiscal year (FY 2002-2003):
Insurance $6,540 (30%) Dispatching $2,500 (11%) Vehicle Maintenance $5,000 (23%) Vehicle Fuel $2,500 (11%) County Fees $5,070 (23%) mandatory county fees Equipment & Misc $397 (1%) Total $22,007
We genuinely appreciate your efforts each year to host the annual BBQ. The money we receive through fundraising and donations provides firefighter training, equipment and helps fill the gap between our tax-based funding and our operational bills.
Lastly, folks have asked how have we been able to afford new equipment, such as our fire engines and water tender (scheduled for delivery this Nov.) Since 1998, the PMVFD has received $631,567 in grant money. We're always looking for grants by which to fund some of operating costs, but in almost 5 years of searching, we have not been able to find any.
Hope this answers your questions. If not, feel free to send an email to palomarmtnfire@aol.com
Thanks Karl Bauer
We strongly recommend keeping your wood stack at least thirty feet from your house, and further away if possible. Also, it is much safer to keep your wood stack at least that far from your propane tank. Be sure to keep weeds and other flammable vegetation away from your wood pile.
Covering your wood pile with a fire resistive tarp can also help. During a wildland fire, embers will fly about freely and one of a thousand of them can lodge within a wood pile and ignite it. If you choose to cover your wood pile with a fire resistive tarp (such as heavy canvas), then be sure to secure it so that the wind which is often associated with a wildland fire cannot tear it free. Also, be sure that the tarp covers the wood pile all the way to the ground.
If circumstances do not allow you to store your wood more than 30 feet from your home, then at least keep the wood pile as small as possible and do not store any small "kindling" nearby. The smaller the piece of wood, the easier it is to ignite.
You might also want to consider keeping your wood in some sort of metal or otherwise nonflammable container. I realize that such a container severely limits the amount of wood that you can store, so if you can arrange keeping a larger supply somewhere else, perhaps with permission from a nearby property owner, you might be able to store a few days supply in a nonflammable container near your home.
If you would like for us to come by and provide you with a home safety survey, including fire prevention tips, feel free to let me know. I hope this information helps. As always, feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.
Thanks again, Karl Bauer, Fire Chief email palomarmtnfire@aol.com
The Department's new Interface fire engine has arrived, it has
the name "E-297" (not E-97 as in these early photos..)
Here are pictures of the
engine during final assembly: click on any picture to enlarge it.
Called an "Interface" engine because it is designed to operate in areas where development "interfaces" with the wildland, this engine will provide service to the community in conjunction with the Department's larger engine while still accessing some of the more difficult areas of the mountain.
This engine was funded through grants provided by County Supervisor Bill Horn and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters program.
While we look forward to the increased capabilities that this new engine will provide, we do strongly recommend that people still take the time to make their roads accessible. We are happy to visit your area and advise you how to make your roads more accessible. Just send an email to palomarmtnfire@aol.com or call the station at 760 742-3701.
The Department's new 3,200 gallon water tender should arrive in March.
The water tender will carry 3,200 gallons and will be used to transport
water to the scene of a fire, dump it in a portable tank, and return to
a water source for more. Between the the water tender and our two new
fire engines, we will have the capacity to arrive at a fire with 4, 450
gallons of water!
Here are a few pictures of the vehicle in production.
If you haven't had the chance to clear away some of the brush or open your road to fire engines, now is a great time to start. By clearing away the brush from your home and opening up your road, you make it possible for firefighters to protect your home during a fire. From 0' to 30' clear away the native vegetation and grass and from 30' to 100' (or the nearest property line) thin the native vegetation by half. And don't forget to trim up the tress at least 10'. Creating defensible space through fuel modification and creating adequate access are the two most important things you can do to protect your home from wildfire.
As always, we're more than happy to visit your home and conduct a safety survey. If you'd like a little advice on how to create defensible space around your home, just send an email to palomarmtnfire@aol.com or call the station at 760 742-3701.
We appreciate that creating defensible space takes time and energy, so
once more, thanks for clearing away the brush and keep up the good work!
Karl Bauer, Fire Chief
The final BBQ results are income of $14430 and a net after expenses of $10825. Thanks to all who donated their time, talent, and money. Once again we are able to multiply our tax-based income from the county ($22,000) by nearly 50%.
Two community residents have donated material to re-roof the fire house. We will be removing the wood shakes and installing composition shingles shortly. This will be the beginning of trying to get a so-called "B" permit for the building, which will allow some limited functions to be legally carried out in the building.
The new PMVFD board consists of Bill Peffer- President, Bob Keilholtz- VP, Merle Sweet-Treasurer, Woody Zuill-Secretary, and Dee Foltz, member at large. If you have any comments, gripes, ideas (or even praise) let me know. My email address is: wpeffer@cts.com and my home phone is 742-2243.
I'll be sending notes out on this email broadcast from time to time in an
effort to improve our communication with both the residents and friends of
the mountain.
BILL PEFFER
wpeffer@cts.com
742-2243
Each year we hear it. It's almost as familiar as the bells on street corners each Christmas. But did you remember to do it?
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), roughly 19 out of 20 (or 95%) of U.S. households have smoke alarms, but one-fifth of those homes remain unprotected-- because the alarms aren't working. When fire deaths occur in homes that have smoke alarms, half those deaths are in homes where the alarm did not sound. The most common reason is dead, missing or disconnected batteries.
So, change the batteries when you change your clock from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time and vice-versa, whenever the smoke alarm chirps to warn you that power is getting low, and when you move into a new home. If your smoke detectors are hard wired, periodically check them by pressing the button in middle. Replace the entire smoke alarm, whether hard-wired or battery-powered, if it is more than 10 years old. And at an absolute minimum, install a smoke detector in each level of your house. For a few dollars more, you may want to consider having the added security of a carbon monoxide detector, which detects levels of the odorless, colorless and tasteless gas before they become dangerous.
We at the PMVFD wish you and yours a happy and SAFE, holiday season!
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send an email to palomarmtnfire@aol.com
Karl Bauer, PMVFD
Our volunteers for the PMVFD were busy last year! Thanks to all the people who volunteer in so many ways for us to have a Volunteer Fire Department here on the Mountain top. Here's the statistics for 2001:
| Fire (Structure and Wildland) | 10 | 11% |
| Rescue and EMS (includes Motor Vehicle Accidents) | 63 | 72% |
| Hazardous Conditions (Down Wires, Etc) | 2 | 2% |
| Service Calls | 3 | 4% |
| False Alarms and False Call | 10 | 11% |
| Total Calls | 88 | - |
Other Information:
| Motorcycle Accidents | 14 | 16% |
| Resident Involved Calls | 20 | 23% |
2001 call statistics fall well within the last five year's average.
In May 2001, the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a grant of $140,000 with which to purchase a new water tender. By acquiring a new water tender, the PMVFD will gain the ability to bring water to a fire, dump that water into a holding tank and return to the source for more. Ultimately, we plan to operate with two water tenders; much like airplanes orbiting an airport, they will circle between the fire and the water source, dumping water into portable tanks and returning for more.
We also feel very grateful for the water supply systems provided by the Palomar Mountain Mutual Water Company and the Bailey Meadow Mutual Water Company. Obviously, during a fire, water supply can quickly become the most significant concern. The water provided by these two community water companies will be invaluable to us in the event of fire. As well, we thank the Palomar Observatory and the Palomar Christian Conference center for allowing us to use their water supply systems.
As always, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me
at (760) 742-1419, or send an email: palomarmtnfire@aol.com
Thank you. Karl Bauer, Fire Chief
At the PMVFD, we take very seriously our mission to provide you with excellent emergency service. Our personal commitment to the community means that, should you have the need to call 911, a well-trained emergency crew will respond swiftly, efficiently and safely, and that each member of that crew will have the requisite knowledge and skill to save lives, if need be.
Because we take our commitment as seriously as we do, several months ago members of the department began walking areas of the community, developing a set of "pre-fire" plans. Common among fire departments, pre-fire plans provide responders with advance knowledge of home locations, potential hazards such as propane tanks, the most efficient hose-lay, and similar information that helps each responder to provide excellent emergency service. At no time have we concerned ourselves with unearthing building or County Fire Code violations.
Each member of the PMVFD keenly remembers the reasons upon which the community founded and built this fire department: to provide excellent emergency service to the community. They have not forgotten, nor have I, that each of us took our position with the department as a volunteer. Our endeavor remains to provide excellent, emergency service, and nothing else.
By this letter, I hope to have answered some of your questions. If I have not, or should you have any other concerns, please feel free to call me at (760) 742-1419 or contact me via email at: palomarmtnfire@aol.com.
Thank you. Karl Bauer, Fire Chief
From: recneps@socal.wanet.com (Gretchen Spencer, President)
Terri Bailey has been elected member-at-large to fill an open position on the Board. As a result of his new position as temporary head of the Christian Conference Center, Dennis Tjoelker has stepped down as Assistant Fire Chief, but will remain a member of the Fire Department. Henry Vargas, a ten-year veteran of the Department and the Department's training officer has been appointed as our new Assistant Fire Chief
Our Brand New Fire Engine will be ready for delivery next month, if all goes as planned. Karl Bauer and Henry Vargas will be going to Idaho soon for a last check to assure the engine meets all of our specifications. The engine has been purchased with several grants secured by the department. If all goes well, we hope to have a dedication ceremony in May.
Chief Karl Bauer, Bruce Graves and Jerry McLees have met with Joe Farace, of the County's Planning and Land Use Department to discuss what uses can legally be made of our property under the current permit. According to the County, we have been told that we can use the Fire Department property much as we have in the past as long as we are taking steps to initiate the improvements needed to obtain the permit needed.
The Master Plan Committee, which has been guiding the Department's long-term planning for more than three years, will be meeting soon to discuss long range goals regarding the permit issue, how it affects our non-profit tax status and how best to serve the needs of the community and the Fire Department. We welcome your comments and suggestions and will publicize Master Plan Committee's recommendations.
Chief Bauer advises that during the year 2000 the Department averaged 3.1 firefighters on duty available for emergency calls Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. At night and on weekends the average doubled. The first three months of 2001, the Department averaged 3.7 firefighters on duty during the weekdays and nearly doubles again nights and weekends.
The Department's response time to medical aid calls averages about 8 minutes due to the purchase of the pickup, which can get emergency medical care to those patients who live in remote areas. The Department also provides EMT D/C (defibrillator combi-tube) level EMS. That is the highest level of EMS care allowed by the county, short of paramedics.
The Department trains its members not only to the level of State Fire Marshal FF1 and 2, but it trains its fire officers in State Fire Marshal Level courses. This higher standard of service has come at no increased cost to the community.
Board Meetings are held about once a month on a Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Fire House. The Agenda is posted at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place of the Board Meetings will be sent to the community via the Palomar Mountain News e-mail. The Palomar Community is invited to attend and we welcome your comments and suggestions.
E-mail addresses: If you want to send an e-mail to the Board, send it
to Gretchen Spencer at
recneps@socal.wanet.com.
If you want to send it to
the Fire Department, send it to Chief Karl Bauer at
palomarmtnfire@aol.com.
IN AN EMERGENCY: ALWAYS CALL 911
Summer 2001 Newsletter
See the PMVFD in action on a vehicle rescue, courtesy San Diego SAFE (the callbox people).
The following people are on the PMVFD Board, 2000-2001
Board elections are held at the Annual Meeting on Sunday morning of Labor Day weekend. It is a two-year term. In Sept 2000, Debbie Bauer and Gretchen Spencer were re-elected for a two-year term, Lou Wilson was elected for a two-year term, and Bob Keilholtz was elected to fill Craig Hill's remaining one year.
Questions? Please contact: recneps@socal.wanet.com (Frank or Gretchen Spencer)
The Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department (PMVFD) has received grant funding for the purchase of a new fire engine. This week, at the request of Supervisor Bill Horn, the County Board of Supervisors authorized reallocation of $197,500 in federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). With an additional $27,500 previously granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a total of $225,000 has been made available to purchase a new engine.
"Supervisor Horn has been a vigorous supporter of rural fire departments, and especially our Palomar Mountain department," said Karl Bauer, PMVFD Chief. "His efforts, along with those of Supervisors Pam Slater and Dianne Jacob, are greatly appreciated."
The new funding not only allows the PMVFD to replace a 40-year old engine, but it also makes it possible for the first time for the department to have an engine specifically designed for the needs of this isolated rural mountain community. Chief Bauer and the department's officers and firefighters are finalizing specifications for the new engine. Among these will be four-wheel drive, 750 to 1,000 gallons of water and foam, and a 1,250 gallon per minute pump. Bids for the engine are expected to be let shortly with delivery six to eight months after the order is placed.
"This is a great step forward for the department and the community," said PMVFD Board President Craig Hill. "Securing grants of this magnitude required significant time and effort on the part of department volunteers. The board can now turn its attention to raising the significantly smaller $25-30,000 necessary to replace our disabled water tender," Hill said.
The department's 22-year-old lead engine will serve as backup to the new
engine. Rather than retire "Old Yeller," as the 40-year-old engine is
called, Bauer plans to strategically station it in the community to assist in
expanding the department's level of protection. This, with the new engine
and other improvements the department has made in recent years, is expected
to help lower the community's ISO rating by which insurance companies set
rates. The PMVFD is recruiting volunteers for both active and auxiliary
firefighter positions. Interested persons should contact Chief Bauer at
(760) 742-3701 or palomarmtnfire@aol.com.