From the Fire Department

Last updated on May 3, 2012

Fire personnel responded to 111 emergency calls over the last two weeks.

SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS

On Saturday April 28, 2012 at approximately 3:30 p.m., Monrovia Fire Department units responded to Canyon Park on an 88 year old male who had tripped and fell while hiking on the trail to the Monrovia Falls. Fire department personnel provided basic life support and first aid to the patient. Monrovia Firefighters then assisted the patient down from the falls. The gentleman was taken to the hospital by a family member, where he received treatment.

FIRE PREVENTION

Community Wildfire Protection Plan: May Update

Trim Smarter, Not Harder – Free Brush Consultations

Fire zone residents are beginning their defensible space work, in preparation for brush inspections to begin later this month.  Some residents have taken advantage of our offer of pre-work consultations.   These are free and confidential and they are designed to help you “trim smarter, not harder” so that you can accomplish the following goals:

• Comply with Monrovia’s fire safety code
• Prepare for brush inspection
• Protect your Home Ignition Zone, minimizing your risk of loss in a wildfire
• Reduce disposal costs and effort
• As a bonus, possibly reduce your environmental impact on water supply, soil and habitat

You can schedule a consultation by calling (626) 256-8109 or emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Seasonal fire potential outlook:

In spite of the recent cool, wet weather, the seasonal rain total has been well below average, leaving the heavier fuels (such as trees) more susceptible to burning, while the fine fuels have shown some greening up*.  Fire potential is deemed normal for our area; higher than normal in mountain and interior areas.

http://gacc.nifc.gov/oscc/predictive/outlooks/myfiles/assessment.pdf

*In other words, it’s a great time to weedwhack!!

Update on Fire Department ongoing fuel reduction projects:

We learned recently that our long-term partnership with Rio Hondo Fire Academy has hit a glitch due to community college budget cuts.   We had planned a productive work and training day with the Rio Hondo cadets to clear firebreaks in key areas, as they have done for us for many years.  Unfortunately, their budget will not allow them to come to Monrovia this year.  In their absence, we are pursuing other contacts to get this important work done before fire season.  We fervently hope that the outlook will have improved by this time next year, allowing Rio Hondo’s corps of 50+ strong, skilled cadets and seasoned cadre leaders to once again share their enthusiasm and hard work with us.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

“Sidewalk CPR Event”

The Monrovia Fire Department is pleased to announce an upcoming event June 7 from 9:00 a.m. to noon called “Sidewalk CPR Day.”  That week happens to be National CPR week and in cooperation with the American Heart Association, Cities throughout the State of California will be participating in an event that teaches hands-only CPR to local residents.  The Monrovia Fire Department will have a booth set-up in front of the Library in Downtown and will be using special manikins to teach residents the life-saving technique.  No special skills are required and each training session lasts about 10 minutes, providing the vital skills that could save a life.  More information will be providing in coming weeks, but we hope that local residents and business owners will join with Monrovia Firefighters to learn hands-only CPR.

TRAINING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

This two-week period marks the beginning of probationary for newly hired Monrovia Firefighters with Paramedic Certification. The recruits are Joe Jansen and John Claypool who they began their training academy on Monday, April 30. This two week academy will be intense and focus on the basic firefighting skills that will be required during their career with the Monrovia Fire Department. After the recruits complete the academy they will be probationary firefighters for an 18-month probationary period. During this 18 month period the training cadre will build on their basic skills and train them in advanced firefighting techniques. As these two embark on probation the department also has two Firefighter/Paramedics that are preparing to complete probation, as they have completed their practical testing and are preparing for their final written exam. Firefighters with Paramedic certification Clemens and Vasquez performed well on their final manipulative exam and will be taking the final written exam soon to complete probation – we wish all of the probationary employees continued success.

ADMINISTRATION

Monrovia Fire Department has learned that it is one of 21 sites throughout the County that will be outfitted with a “Smart Classroom” for training purposes.  Using Homeland Security grant funds, Monrovia will receive new Cisco technology that will allow for real-time, interactive training with other fire departments throughout the region. This new endeavor is part of the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association Regional Training Group (RTG) and will allow Monrovia Firefighters to participate in basic and advanced classroom training with firefighters throughout the region.  For example, if Los Angeles City Fire Department is teaching an advanced class on high-rise firefighting (the department is known as a national leader in this type of firefighting), then Monrovia Firefighters can participate in the training from our fire station, ask questions real time and learn new and improved techniques that ultimately improve our service delivery.  This is another example of how Monrovia Fire is working to improve our training and engage our firefighters to continually improve performance as it relates to fire and life safety services.   We are proud to be one of the original locations picked (with over 300 fire stations in the County Monrovia was selected to be one of the first receiving a Smart Classroom) and will continue to advocate for advancements in technology and training that lead to improved service delivery.

Finally, as a reminder, we have begun the brush season and will start brush inspections in the next few weeks.  We encourage residents to take advantage of the recent cool, wet weather and plan their annual trimming and clearing of brush now.  Again we are sorry that the brush chipper program has expired, but the Monrovia Fire Department will offer free consultation for your brush clearance requirements by calling (626) 256-8109 and requesting Rachael Wing to perform a site visit.  She can also be contacted via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Thank you and continued success in keeping Monrovia Fire Safe!