Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association

Cal OES Training Bulletin – September 2016

2016 California Preseason Flood Coordination Meetings – Department of Water Resources – State of California, Various Dates and Locations Around California in September and October 2016

Regional Instructor Orientation (RIO) presented by Fire Nuggets / SBRPSTS / Santa Cruz County Training Officers, October, 3, 2016, in Aptos, CA

Instructor I: Instructional Methodology presented by Monterey Peninsula, December 12 – 16, 2016, at the MPC Public Safety Training Center in Seaside, CA

Instructor II: Instructional Development presented by Monterey Peninsula College, January 30 – February 3, 2017, at the MPC Public Safety Training Center in Seaside, CA

Soberanes Fire Update:

The “Soberanes Fire” located generally on the Big Sur Coast of Monterey County started on July 22, 2016, and continues grow in size each day, most notably southeast through the Los Padres National Forest and now well beyond the community of Big Sur. The fire has traveled nearly 30 miles to the south from its original area of origin. Being the fire is primarily now in the Los Padres National Forest, the fire is under the command of California Interagency Incident Management Team #4. Expected containment is on September 30, 2016. To date, 68 structures have been lost, 5 structures have been damaged, and 1 fatality has occurred. The fire has burned over 125,000 acres and is 71% contained. Approximately 2,300 personnel are assigned to the incident. The cause of the fire has been determined as an “unattended, illegal campfire” that occurred near the Soberanes Canyon Trail in Garrapata State Park. The following links are providing daily updates on the fire:

About Us:

Welcome to the website of the Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association. Our goal with this website is two fold. First, our desire is to assist members of the fire service, and fire service candidates, in receiving up-to-date training that meets their individual training needs. Individual training and continuing education in the fire service is a vital component to a successful fire service career. Secondly, we wish to assist fire service agencies in meeting their overall training objectives. We hope to accomplish this by linking fire service agencies with the resources, materials, and opportunities they need to have a successful training division with measurable results. Fire service training is continually evolving. A variety of improved delivery methods through new technology has opened many doors and provides new opportunities that were not possible in the past. Our desire is that this website will capture these new technologies and make them available to all members of the fire service.

Ongoing Training:

The Monterey County Fire Training Officers Association (MCFTOA) has supported and provided fire service training in Monterey County for over forty years. As a standing committee of the Monterey County Fire Chiefs Association, the MCFTOA has hosted numerous classes over the years on many fire service related topics. Recent classes include S-234 Ignition Operations, practical Auto Extrication Techniques, Peer Fitness Trainer Certification, The Charleston Report, PC 832 Reserve Officer Training, S-440 Planning Section Chief, Elevator Rescue, The Cutting Edge Command Officer, Certification Track Update, Off Road Driving Skills, in addition to annual live-fire wildland firefighting training at Fort Hunter Liggett. In supporting individual personnel training, we recently provided scholarship opportunities for Monterey County fire service personnel by covering 50 % of the registration fee for selected classes, and offered full class reimbursements for up to (5) individuals from each Monterey County fire agency for flood and swiftwater awareness training in preparation for the 2015-2016 El Nino event.

Training Resources:

Along with hosting individual training classes, the MCFTOA supports fire service training efforts by operating the Monterey County Fire Library at the Monterey Peninsula College Public Safety Training Center. The library contains hundreds of training materials and resources available for check-out by active members of the MCFTOA. Click on the “Fire Library” tab for additional information on the Monterey County Fire Library.

Formal Education:

Believing in the importance of formal pre-service and continuing education, the MCFOTA has maintained a long standing partnership with Monterey Peninsula College and the California Fire Academy at Monterey Bay. The MCFTOA serves as the MPC Fire Technology Advisory Committee and many members of the fire service in Monterey County are Instructors with MPC’s Firefighter 1 Academy. The California Fire Academy at Monterey Bay is operated through Monterey Peninsula College located on the former Fort Ord Military Installation at the Monterey Peninsula College Public Safety Training Center. For more information on the Firefighter 1 Academy and the California Fire Academy at Monterey Bay offered through Monterey Peninsula College, click on the “Monterey Peninsula College” tab to the left.

Wildland Firefighting Training at Fort Hunter Liggett

WILDLAND FIRE SCHOOL – Fort Hunter Liggett

Participation:

Membership in the MCFTOA is open to both active and retired emergency services personnel in Monterey County. Our goal is to have 100% participation from every fire service agency in Monterey County. Click on our “Membership” tab for more information on membership opportunities including a membership application, meeting schedule, and corporate bylaws. We hope this website helps you meet your individual and department training needs. Please feel free to contact us at mcftoa@gmail for any training related information you may need or any suggestions you have to improve the delivery of fire service training in Monterey County.

Award winners from left to right, 2015 Support Person of the Year, Karry Kuntz. The 2015 Career Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter Anthony Pardo. The 2015 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, Fire Chief Cheryl Goetz.

Award winners from left to right, 2015 Support Person of the Year, Karry Kuntz. The 2015 Career Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter Anthony Prado. The 2015 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, Fire Chief Cheryl Goetz.

Each year since 1982, the Monterey County Fire Chiefs Association recognizes individuals from local fire service agencies whose dedication to the fire service in Monterey County deserves acknowledgement. To recognize these outstanding individuals, the MCFCA hosts an annual awards luncheon. This year’s awards luncheon was held in Castroville, CA. on January 21, 2016. The awards winners were:

2015 Career Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter Anthony Prado from the Marina Fire Department.

2015 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, Fire Chief Cheryl Goetz from the Mid Coast Fire Brigade.

2015 Support Person of the Year, Karry Kuntz from the Monterey County Regional Fire District.