- a weekly column published in the Pioneer Press

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS: A few years back, I took our Assemblyman Doug La Malfa on an unchoreographed tour of Etna. We walked up and down Main Street and just talked with the people there. It became obvious by the time we had made it up one side of the street that most people wore several hats. The Fire Chief was a local business man, the garage operator was with Neighborhood Watch, etc. It demonstrated that rural areas function because of the volunteerism of their members. In Siskiyou County, people step up to fill roles needed by their communities.   

I am told that some people are not aware that local fire departments are run on a volunteer basis. Well, they are. Perhaps people are not aware because of the professionalism demanded of and demonstrated by today’s volunteer firefighter. I asked Chief Chris Baker of the Fort Jones Fire Department what kind of training a firefighter receives: 36 hours of Public Safety, First Aid and CPR; 24 hours on the Incident Command System (ICS); 27 hours on operations involving Haz Mat (Hazardous Materials); 9 hours on Haz Mat decontamination; and 40 hours of basic training for firefighters. Most departments will also require the following additional training: 18 hours on auto extraction; 79 hours of basic wildland firefighting and 124 hours of EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training. All of these are credentialed college courses. Also, each firefighter must pass a yearly medical physical and a “Fit” test for self-contained breathing apparatus (SBAs) used when entering a structure fire.

According to Baker, he averages about 20 hours responding to calls every month. Each of our volunteer firefighters should be honored by us for their personal commitment to our communities. We should all do everything we can to show support of their efforts on our behalf. They are true local heroes.   

Our volunteer fire departments are in dire need of additional volunteers. It is also a great opportunity for training and skill development for young men and women. Find out which fire department serves your area and give the Chief a call. Your community needs you. If you can’t fight fires, you can get involved in their fundraising efforts.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES: Siskiyou County uses the services of Strategic Local Government Services to assist in making its voice heard with our State Legislature. The following are some of the issues we have identified as priorities: (1) continued reform of Worker’s Compensation; (2) stable State funding for local fire services; (3) renewal and expansion of Siskiyou County’s Enterprise Zone; (4) opposition to shift of auto insurance rates onto rural drivers; (5) reimbursement of County costs for homicide trials; (6) continuation and increase of funding for alcohol and drug services; (7) full and timely funding of Resource Conservation District projects; (8) partial State funding and stabilization of watermaster fees; (9) restoration of road funding; (10) legislation to reduce the supply and demand for methamphetamine; (11) State funding assistance in planning and training for possible public health crisis, (such as Avian Flu;) (12) protection of library funding from State budget reductions; (13) increase in Distance Learning facilities; (14) preservation of the integrity of locally adjudicated water use rights; (15) local control of local resource issues, such as groundwater; (16) streamlined permitting of timber harvest and promotion of best forest management practices; (17) State funding assistance to offset the cost for new emission control regulations for diesel engines to rural counties; (18) State budgetary relief for the cost to rural county building inspectors for enforcement of new fire regulations; (19) ease air pollution restrictions to allow for more fuel reduction burning; and (20) fair and equitable agreements with Indian tribes that will offset the impacts of casinos on Siskiyou County services.