Tag Archives: Chino Valley Fire Department

Chino Valley Fire Visits Children’s Hospital

BY CVFDcvfd-schools

Chino Valley Fire District personnel visited children undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to deliver toys and other gifts on December 22, 2016.

The second-annual toy delivery was first initiated by CVFD Junior Firefighter Vincent Dominguez, 8, after he successfully fought and beat cancer while being treated at CHLA. Fire personnel returned to CHLA with Junior Firefighter Dominguez to greet patients, offer gifts and words of encouragement.

The Chino Valley Fire Foundation provided $1,500 for firefighters to purchase several toys, art supplies, sports equipment, electronic devices and gift cards that were distributed throughout the morning.cx

The Chino Valley Fire Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting life, safety, and welfare of the public through educational programs, direct assistance, and financial support of charitable organizations, victims of tragic events, and injured firefighters.

 

 

Helping Out For The Holidays

cvusdBy CVUSD

Butterfield Ranch Elementary School in Chino Hills took to heart the motto that it is “better to give than receive” during its annual Night of Giving on Dec. 14.
Students, staff and parents collected new toys for distribution by the Chino Valley Fire Department, collected items for families in need that are served by Chino Valley Unified School District’s HOPE centers, collected blankets and pet toys for homeless animals in shelters, filled a firefighter’s boot with money to help burn victims, and collected change to “change someone’s holiday.”
The students also made cards for children who are in the hospital during the holidays. The evening event also included a visit from Santa Claus and Chino Valley firefighters.

New Ladder Truck Goes Into Service

dsc_4071BY CVFD

The Chino Valley Fire District recently placed into service a new ladder truck that will serve the Chino Valley for well over a decade.

The 2016 Rosenbauer aerial ladder truck is housed at Fire Station 61 on Schaefer Avenue in Chino. It has multiple built-in features that enhance the safety and effectiveness of our personnel responding to calls for help.

The new piece of apparatus also features Green Star Technology. A built-in generator will kick on when the apparatus’ parking brake is set and has been idling for three minutes. This feature will save fuel, lower emissions, reduce maintenance cost and extends the lifespan of the apparatus.

The new truck is equipped with vital rescue equipment that includes the Jaws of Life to extricate victims that become trapped after a traffic collision, advanced life support equipment for paramedic services, ventilation and forcible entry tools for structure fires, and many other firefighting tools.

The previous ladder truck that has served the Chino Valley for 12 years will now serve as the reserve truck, retiring the District’s current reserve truck that is 22 years old.

Annual Make A Child Smile shopping Wednesday

By CVUSD

A Chino Valley Unified School District student checks out his purchases at the 2015 Make A Child event at the Walmart Supercenter in Chino. Photo courtesy: CVUSD

A Chino Valley Unified School District student checks out his purchases at the 2015 Make A Child event at the Walmart Supercenter in Chino.
Photo courtesy: CVUSD

As early as 1937, local firefighters were collecting old toys, repairing and distributing them to make holidays brighter for Chino children in need.
By 1940, Chino firefighters were delivering toys throughout a 132-square-mile area, “sending trucks into every corner of the fire district on Christmas Eve,” according to an article in the Chino Champion newspaper.
That charitable idea continues with the 14th annual Make A Child Smile program, to be held Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Walmart Supercenter in Chino.
It is a sponsor-funded program run by the Chino Valley Fire Foundation, a non-profit organization that has merged charitable activities with the Chino Valley Professional Firefighters in an effort to better serve the Chino Valley community.
Make A Child Smile began in 2002, when 34 students were each given $100 to shop for gifts. Since then, it has helped approximately 1,083 children shop for holiday treasures.
This year’s event will benefit 100 students with a $150 shopping spree each, a “Code Three” fire- and police-escorted bus ride to the store, photos with Santa, crafts, food, snow play, and commemorative t-shirts.
We cannot thank Chino Valley firefighters, Walmart, and other community partners enough for providing these children with a day they will never forget!

 

Drug Lab Leads to Explosion

By City of Chino

CHINO, CA – On Sunday November 27, 2016 at approximately 1:55 p.m. Chino Police Officers and Chino Valley Firefighters responded to a report of a residential fire in the 4900 block of G Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered that an explosion had occurred in the back of the residence.  The fire was extinguished prior to the officers’ arrival.

Located at the residence was 20-year-old Chino resident, Adrian Corona who was suffering from severe burn injuries to his face and upper body.

The investigation revealed the source of the explosion as a Butane Honey Oil (BHO) extraction laboratory used to manufacture marijuana hash oil. Investigators from the Chino Police Department and the Chino Valley Fire District quarantined the area and processed the scene once investigators determined it was safe to enter.

Emergency personnel closed G Street for several hours while investigators processed the scene.

Corona was transported to an area hospital with severe burn injuries. Investigators are seeking charges against Corona for his involvement in drug manufacturing.

The investigation is ongoing; anyone with information should contact Lieutenant Mensen with the Investigations Bureau at (909) 334-3093 or kmensen@chinopd.org.

Cancer Never Sleeps At Relay For Life

By Racine Guajardo  

Relay for Life, Early morning group of people from the City of Chino who worked registration and the survivor tent on August 6.

Photo courtesy: Ramona Almendarez
Relay for Life, Early morning group of people from the City of Chino who worked registration and the survivor tent on August 6.

Chino– On August 6 starting from 9 a.m. to August 7 at 9 a.m., the Relay for Life event joins together to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event took place at Ayala Park in Chino in hopes to “Paint the World Purple.”

The American Cancer Society says, “It unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all.”

About 66 teams were formed with over 1200 participants who attended the event that helped raised over $200,000.  It is a 24 hour event because “cancer never sleeps”.

The booths had a variety of handmade items for sale, games, food, and raffle tickets being

sold to win Sports event tickets, restaurant and fast food gift cards, movie theatre passes, clothing store gift cards, vacation certificate and the grand prize raffle prize was premium tickets to a Dodger game.

Local residents from Chino and nearby cities expressed how much they enjoyed attending the 24 hour event and what it means to them:

Chino resident, Sabrina Walker-Gonzales attended this event and says, “My family thought it was awesome.” Also local Chino resident, Ramona Almendarez says, “My cousin Deb and my mom Grace are both survivors. The reason I

“Mad about cancer booth” at the Relay for Life event in Chino on August 6.

Photo courtesy: Sabrina Gonzales
“Mad about cancer booth” at the Relay for Life event in Chino on August 6.

volunteer.”

An Ontario resident, Gloria Duran attends the event in honor of her daughter Espy Duran who is a cancer survivor and says, “The event is such a beautiful thing, we always have fun and love the atmosphere.”

The Relay for Life also encouraged Pokémon Go fanatics to attend saying, “take some laps, collect your PokéStop and hatch your incubating eggs all for a great cause!”

Chino Valley Fire Department’s employee, Angelica Alva, says, “This is Chino Valley Fire’s 4th year participating in the chino Relay for Life. We are proud to be a part of such an amazing cause.”

The City of Chino is the presenting sponsor of the event. However, not only is Linda Abbott an employee of City of Chino, but she has a personal connection for volunteering and says, “I started participating about 8 or 9 years ago after my mom was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in 2007. I was involved a little more but when she was diagnosed in 2008 with breast cancer I participated again. With the encouragement from a close friend I joined the Survivor Committee.  I have been on that committee ever since.”

 

“Let’s extinguish cancer” Chino Valley Fire Department attended the Relay for Life event on August 6.

Photo courtesy: Angelica Alva
“Let’s extinguish cancer” Chino Valley Fire Department attended the Relay for Life event on August 6.

“The survivor committee has a Fashion Show in June and a few restaurant fundraisers prior to the Relay,” added Abbott. “We raise funds to contribute to a nicer Survivor Experience. We are able to purchase medals instead of sashes to put in our swag bags that are given out to all our survivors along with a T-Shirt from the American Cancer Society and other items, which are provided by local vendors like Waste Management. We offer breakfast and dinner provided by Papachinos, also snow cones and desserts are served in our survivor tent.  Everything we offered in the survivor tent is free to all cancer survivors, it is also a nice place to just sit and relax or cool down for a few minutes.  We have volunteers that decorate the tent, run bingo, and register survivors (over 300 survivors that were registered).  Also the Young Marines set up the tables and chairs for us and serve dinner.”

Before the event ended, a closing ceremony celebrated the accomplishment of all those who volunteered to make it a successful event of coming together to also remember the lives lost, and to continue a fight against cancer.

For future participation or if you would like to just attend, you may visit the website at http://www.relayforlife.org.

CVFD Announces Award Recipients

Photo courtesy: Chino Valley Fire District

Photo courtesy: Chino Valley Fire District

By Massiel Ladrón De Guevara

Chino Valley– The Chino Valley Fire District is proud to recognize former San Bernardino County Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ovitt and Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council founding member Ron Nadeau as the 2015 recipients of the Fred L. Burns Community Service Award. Both award recipients were instrumental in the implementation of programs that reduced the fire risk in the Carbon Canyon area. “These two members of our community are certainly well deserving of the Fred L. Burns Community Service Award,” Board President Brian Johsz said, “Mr. Ovitt and Mr. Nadeau have made a real impact on protecting our community and removing a fire threat to many homes in Carbon Canyon.”

The Fred L. Burns Community Service Award was established to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Chino Valley Fire District in the area of furthering the District’s Mission Statement and/or who has made a significant contribution to the Chino Valley Community in the area of community service in support of public safety.

Mr. Ovitt served as Fourth District Supervisor from 2004 to 2014. During his tenure as Supervisor, Mr. Ovitt demonstrated a commitment to public safety by supporting several projects related to reducing fire risks in the community. He was a strong supporter of the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council, which was founded in 2001 under the guidance of the Fire District to support and implement programs and events related to fire safety within the Carbon Canyon community. Mr. Ovitt was instrumental in securing funds to remove overgrown vegetation that posed a fire danger in Carbon Creek. He also played a vital role in securing a location for a critical fire communications repeater in Carbon Canyon.

Mr. Nadeau has taken a lead with various projects that help protect Carbon Canyon from the devastating effects of fire. He has been instrumental with brush removal programs in the Canyon, wildfire defensible space planning and public outreach events. He also helped lead the arundo donax hazardous vegetation removal project in Canyon Creek that Mr. Ovitt helped fund. The overgrown brush in the creek is what helped fuel the fires that burned through the creek west of the San Bernardino County line during the 2008 Freeway Complex Fire.

Mr. Nadeau and Mr. Ovitt’s partnership with the Fire Safe Council has dramatically reduced the potential for loss of life, property destruction and damage to the environment that is associated with wildfire. The Chino Valley Fire District is proud to honor them for their work in keeping our communities safer from the detrimental effects of wildfires.

Toddler Bit By Snake In Chino Hills

Photo Courtesy: Digital Media Services

Photo Courtesy: Digital Media Services

Staff Reports

Chino Hills– A three-year-old girl was airlifted to the hospital after a snake bit her in Chino Hills last week.

On Tuesday, April 19, Chino Valley Fire District firefighters responded to the snake bite incident at 9:22 a.m. The girl was bit on her left leg while walking on a local walking trail on Soquel Canyon Road and Pipeline Avenue.

CVFD Firefighter/Paramedics provided advance life support care and the girl was transported by air ambulance to Loma Linda University Medical Center. She is currently in critical but stable condition.

The Chino Valley Fire District warns that the chances of coming across a rattlesnake increases when the temperatures increase. The warm weather encourages rattlesnakes to come out, so it is important to watch where you are walking and to stay on designated trails when out hiking and enjoying the outdoors.  If you see a snake, stop and back away to a safe place.  Never try to touch a snake or scare it away.  Snakes seek warmer areas when it is cool, so be observant for snakes sunning on rocks or trails, especially in the cooler times of day.  Conversely, when it is hot, snakes seek cooler areas.  Use extra caution when around areas where there is high brush or when stepping over logs or fallen trees.

Below are additional safety tips provided by the Chino Valley Fire District.

Safety tips to help you avoid a rattlesnake bite:

  • Never go barefoot or wear sandals when hiking or walking through grassy areas. Always wear hiking boots.
  • When hiking, stick to well-used trails. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush where snakes may hide during the day.
  • Do not step or put your hands where you cannot see.
  • Never hike alone. Always have someone with you who can assist in an emergency.
  • Do not handle a freshly killed snake, it can still inject venom.
  • Teach children early to respect snakes and to leave them alone.

What to do if bitten by a rattlesnake:

  • Do not panic. Remain calm and slowly move away from the snake.
  • Call 9-1-1 immediately or send someone for help.
  • Keep the bite at or below heart level.
  • Do not apply a cold pack, tourniquet, cut the bite or attempt to suck out the venom.
  • Do not attempt to catch or kill the snake. Do try to remember what the snake looked like.
  • Take note of the time the bite occurred, if possible.

CVFD Hires Six Firefighter/Paramedics

Photo Courtesy of CVFD (L-R): Nathan Brooks, Conner Buck, Charles Addie, Miguel Lopez, Matt Robertson, Blake Lemke.

Photo Courtesy of CVFD
(L-R): Nathan Brooks, Conner Buck, Charles Addie, Miguel Lopez, Matt Robertson, Blake Lemke.

Courtesy of the Chino Valley Fire District

 

The Chino Valley Fire District welcomed six new firefighter/paramedics to the Fire District family on January 10th. The new hires will fill vacancies left by promotions and retirements.

After completing an intensive four-week academy put on by Fire District personnel, the firefighter/paramedics will be assigned to work at one of the seven fire stations in the District.

“We are excited to bring these new firefighter/paramedics onboard. They underwent an extensive testing process that ensures we are hiring the best firefighter/paramedics for the community” said Fire Chief Tim Shackelford.

The new hires include Charles Addie, Nathan Brooks, Conner Buck, Blake Lemke, Miguel Lopez and Matt Robertson. Firefighter/Paramedics Addie, Brooks and Buck were all former Chino Valley Fire District Fire Explorers.

The Fire Explorer program requires participants to pass an interview, physical agility test, and to complete 20 hours of volunteer work each year at various special functions and community events.

Chino Valley Fire Department Awarded Transparency Certificate of Excellence

Photo Courtesy: Chino Valley Fire District

Photo Courtesy: Chino Valley Fire District

Courtesy of the Chino Valley Fire District

 

Chino Valley – The Chino Valley Fire District was awarded the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by the Special District Leadership Foundation in recognition of good governance practices during its annual California Special Districts Association Conference. It is the second time the Fire District received this award.

The Fire District demonstrated compliance in eight essential governance transparency requirements, including conducting ethics training for all board members, properly conducting open and public meetings, and filing financial transactions and compensation reports to the State Controller in a timely manner.

“The Fire Board and District staff is to be commended for their commitment to being fully transparent, open and accessible to the public and all our stakeholders,” said Chino Valley Fire Chief Tim Shackelford.

The Fire District also fulfilled 15 website requirements, including providing readily available information to the public, such as board agendas, past minutes, current district budget, and the most recent financial audit.

Finally, the Fire District demonstrated outreach efforts to constituents that engage them in our governance through newsletters and other materials.

The Special District Leadership Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed to promote good governance and best practices among California’s special districts through certification, accreditation and other recognition programs.

Summer Barbeques: A Cautionary Tale

Staff Reports

Chino Valley – On Wed., Aug. 5, Chino Valley Fire District firefighters responded to a barbeque fire on the 16000 block of Pipeline Avenue in Chino that resulted in minor injuries. Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to the patio and home by isolating it to the cooking station area. CVFD firefighter/paramedics treated a female patient for minor burn injuries.

Summer is a great time for get-togethers and barbeques, and the best way to ensure that your family and guests have a happy and memorable experience, is to exercise caution when using outdoor grills.

The Chino Valley Fire District offers the following guidelines and tips to help keep you safe.

Before Using Your Propane Grill:

  • Check all fuel connection points to confirm they are tight.
  • Check the fuel source hose for any leaks:
    • Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose using a brush or spray bottle.
    • Turn the fuel source on. If there is a leak, the gas will release bubbles around the hose. If there are no bubbles, your grill is safe to use.
    • If there are bubbles, turn off the tank and check connections, then have your grill serviced by a professional before using it again.
    • If the leak doesn’t stop, call the Fire Department immediately.

When Turning On The Grill:

  • Make sure the lid is open when lighting the grill. This will help prevent a possible gas explosion.

When The Grill Is On:

  • If you smell gas while you are cooking, turn off the gas and burners.
  • If the leak stops immediately, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.
  • If the smell continues, move away from the grill and call the Fire Department immediately. Do not move the grill.

For more information on fire and life safety, contact the Chino Valley Fire District at (909) 902-5260, or visit their website at www.chinovalleyfire.org.

Chino: Near Miss For Small Aircraft

Photo Courtesy: CVFD

Photo Courtesy: CVFD

Staff Reports

Chino – Chino Valley Fire Department (CVFD) Firefighters responded to the Chino Airport on Sat., Aug. 8 at 3:11 p.m. for a small single-engine aircraft that experienced problems with its landing gear while attempting to land.

According to the CVFD, the two-seater aircraft skidded off the runway and came to rest in the grass area adjacent to the runway.  The single male occupant of the aircraft did not sustain any injuries.

Chino Airport Ground is making contact with the FAA and NTSB.  They will be conducting the investigation.