Valley Center Fire Protection District

Members of the public were then invited to present any comments they may have on the pending motion. A number of speakers expressed their viewpoints on the matter. Many speakers asked that the motion be tabled until a later date in order to learn more information about the considerations involved in the proposal to eliminate the present Cal Fire staffing at this Station and to replace it with staffing from the SPFD. Accordingly, the Board of Directors agreed to table the pending motion until its regular meeting on June 20, 2013.

The District Administrator and District Treasurer Phil Bell will present a seminar lasting up to 3 hours long beginning at 9:30AM on June 8, 2013 at the Parks & Recreation District Hall on Lilac Road. The purpose of this seminar is to provide oral and documentary information relevant to the pending vote of the Directors on the Agreement to concerned citizens of the District. The seminar will be conducted in a question and answer format. The seminar will not provide for a debate on the merits of the Agreement.

Bridges and Crossings
Bridge FAQs
Bridge Brochure
Letter to Home Owners

January 2013
Dear Property Owner,
In an effort to provide prompt and efficient emergency services to our customers, the Valley Center Fire Protection District is surveying all bridges, culverts and other crossings within our jurisdiction to ensure compliance with District, County and State fire codes. This effort is in response to the identification of several substandard, non-permitted bridges or culverts in the district, with the ultimate goal of preventing our fire apparatus from falling through a bridge or collapsing a culvert. Our staff has conducted a survey and determined that there is a bridge or culvert on your property. We will be requiring that all private bridges and culverts have the maximum vehicle load limits posted on both entrances to the elevated structure. This requirement can be found in the 2010 edition of the California Fire Code Section 503.2.6 which has been adopted by the Valley Center Fire Protection District in Ordinance 2010-39. See codes on Attachment A.

In order to ensure the safety of our personnel and equipment, we cannot guarantee our fire apparatus will cross your bridge or culvert until such time as we receive verification that your elevated structure will support a capacity of 75,000 pounds. Rest assured we will continue to provide prompt service to your property; however, service will likely be delayed if the capacity of your structure remains unanswered. Verification of capacity may be accomplished by one of the following:

Board President Weaver Simonsen today announced that the Valley Center Fire Protection District received a grant of $59,033 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security for the acquisition of a new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus ("SCBA") filling station.

This grant will permit replacement of the District's 10 year old SCBA filling station which is technically out of date, requires constant repair, and is often out of service for extended periods of time. The new filling station will substantially enhance the District's ability to maintain its level of fire protection service and training as well as that of its neighboring departments who utilize the District's filling station to meet their needs.

President Simonsen said he appreciates the efforts of the District's staff who worked together to obtain this grant. For additional information regarding this release, contact District Fire Chief Jim Rodman or District Administrator John Byrne at (760) 751-7600.

ORDINANCE NO: 2010-39
View the fully adopted 2010 Fire Code
AN ORDINANCE OF THE VALLEY CENTER FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT WHICH ADOPTS THE CALIFORNIA CODE, 2010 EDITION, AND 2009 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE WITH CERTAIN AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS

First read at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Valley Center Fire Protection District of the County of San Diego, California, held on the 16th day of September 2010. A second reading occurred at a regular meeting on the 21st day of October 2010 a public hearing was held November 18th, 2010 and finally adopted and ordered published in the manner required by law at the hearing and meeting on the 18th of November 2010, by the following roll call vote:

AYES: 4
NOES: 0
ABSENT: 0
ABSTAIN: 0

Fall Fire Safety Tips
As summer turns to fall, it's a good idea to refresh your memory on fall fire safety tips.
Visit our Fire Prevention page for more.

HOLIDAY CANDLE SAFETY
With the Holidays just around the corner, candles are a popular way to celebrate and decorate in our homes. Candles are also the cause of many residential structure fires. The Valley Center Fire Protection District in cooperation with CALFIRE reminds everyone that there is no substitute for fire prevention and education before a fire occurs. Candles are generally safe products, but may become hazardous when used improperly or in an unsafe manner. Click to view our recommendations on safety tips when burning candles.

CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY
A Christmas tree, even one treated to be flame-retardant, is capable of burning explosively, spreading the fire throughout your home quickly. Taking proper care of your Christmas tree, however, will help prevent this tragedy from happening to you. Click to view our Christmas Tree safety tips.

Fireplace Safety Tips
Fireplaces and wood stoves have increased in popularity; fires related to their misuse are increasing as well. More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, woodstoves, and other fuel-fired appliances as heat sources in their homes. They are likely the focal point in whatever room they are located in providing warmth, relaxation, and enjoyment. Read More.

The VC Fire Fighters Association is now selling t-shirts.
You can pick yours up at the District Office on Lilac Rd.

There have been a steadily increasing number of incidents requiring the dispatch of fire engines and firefighters to suppress fires started by landowners and business owners in violation of the existing Fire Code. Examples of such violations are: burning without a valid burn permit; burning on "no burn" days; burning in violation of burn permit conditions; repetitive false alarms; impeding fire apparatus access; and maintaining unsafe conditions which result in a fire.

The District is allowed under its Fire Code to recover from an offending landowner fire suppression, investigative and other administrative costs associated with a fire caused by negligence or as a result of a violation of the law. These costs may be substantial in amount, often exceeding thousands of dollars per incident.

Lucia and Byrne said that it is unfair to District landowners who comply with the Fire Code to ultimately shoulder the unnecessary financial burden caused by landowners who fail to comply with the Code. Code violators also detract from the District's readiness and capabilities to provide fire suppression services for legitimate fire incidents.

For additional information regarding this release, contact the Fire Marshal or the District Administrator at (760) 751-7600.

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THE BASICS OF FIRE SAFETY

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING:
Less stuff may result in a smaller fire. Clean up combustible storage and unneeded items from your house. Keep combustible items away from heat sources like mops and brooms in the water heater closet. Keep your home neat clean and clear. In the event of a small fire, there is less chance it will spread and you will be able to escape
quickly.

EARLY WARNING:
Get Smoke Detectors - Have Smoke Detectors - Lots of Smoke Detectors. They are inexpensive and reliable. Install them in your bedrooms and hallways and living rooms. Not in the kitchen or near the bathroom (steam sets them off). Put new batteries in them and test them. They will wake you up in time to escape a fire while it is small.

PLAN AN ESCAPE:
Know how you will get out of your home should you wake up to smoke and fire. Know a second way out in the event the main door is blocked by heat and smoke. Practice your escape with everyone in the household and pick a common meeting place so that everyone knows that everyone is safe or still trapped. In a fire, time is the enemy. Tell the arriving firefighter if everyone is out or if they are trapped and where!

There are many other ways to help prevent a fire, but these basics will most often be the best and easiest to implement and maintain.

George E. Lucia Sr.
Fire Marshal/Captain

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The San Diego Surfrider chapter, along with "I Love a Clean San Diego", the American Heart Association are working with the Californian Highway Patrol (CHP) and San Diego Fire Department to announce that the CHP is cracking down on smokers who throw their butts out the car window while driving.

The CHP joined the coalition efforts by setting up a hotline number that people can call if they see cigarette butts being tossed onto our streets and highways. After the phone call is received, the CHP will send a warning letter to the alleged violator.

It's easy to participate.
1) See someone throwing a cigarette butt out the window of their car
2) Dial 1-877-211-BUTT and read in the license plate
3) The CHP will send a warning letter to the alleged violator.

Making plans ahead of time can often mean the difference between tragedy and survival. And, while the VCFPD and other emergency responders are dedicated to making your life safer, no one agency or governmental entity can do everything that needs to be done to protect you in all circumstances.

Good planning includes having knowledge of your community, its terrain, its roads, the best places to go or avoid in an emergency, what media stations to turn to during a disaster for information, and many other things.