Fire Services in Sonoma County with Mike Cahill

Sonoma County. The chosen spot of all the earth as far as nature is concerned, according to the famed plant wizard Luther Burbank Diverse County, with 1,010,000 acres of land on 1574 miles of scenic roadways, the county is rightfully famed for its agriculture did a culture, industry

and recreation, as well as for the amazingly successful ethnic and economic mixture of its more than 340,000 residents on for the forward looking philosophy of its local governing bodies. Now we invite you to take a closer look at Sonoma County in the eighties with your host,

Rich McGlinchy. How are you? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another edition of Sonoma County in the eighties. We're going to be talking about a subject that's very, very important to all of you. As a matter of fact, when we have sort of surveyed the public, it's

only county about what they like, the just like and don't want in local government to of the things that are always first are police and fire protection. And we have a man with us tonight who is going to tell us about a new phase of fire

protection. Noma County. His name is Mike Cahill. He's the director of Sonoma County Fire Services division, and we're gonna talk more about the new division. And it's important. As I said before, in the past, we have learned that this is something you are very interested in.

We think we have some very intermission interesting information coming from Mike tonight. But first of all, Mike, hi. It's nice to have you here. Thanks for never been with us before. No, I haven't. Chris, you're fairly fairly recent out here now, so make you want to

mention a little something about you before we go into the question and answer. Where you from? Working in schools. I grew up in Cinema Valley. Uh, went to school there, had I went to college, it's no estate, began the fire service with City cinema Fire Department

and worked there for 11 years. After that, I went to work for the state fire marshal's office in Sacramento on the train division, and, um then I came back to Sonoma County to this new new job. Mary. Yes. I'm married. Have why my My wife, no

knee and I have two Children, Christopher and whose will be 11 soon, and Amora, who will be nine. Now we go a little bit about my kale. Mike, by the way, is Cahill Name was every later today to San Francisco Cahill San Francisco Cahill's, although not

the San Francisco Police Department. Cahill's Yeah, OK, Mike must be ready until we get a lot of questions asked you here. What is the function of this Noma County Department of Fire Services? It's fairly new, right? Yes, it ISS primarily, The function is one of a

court coordination of county fire activities. We don't have actual fire engines or firefighters, but we primarily are working in the field of, of of, relating with all the different 52 different fire agencies in Sonoma County and and working with them and trying to act as a

liaison between them and the rest of county government. All right, how long has a part in Britain existed to know? It's fairly recently, and, um, I was hired in July of 1985 and then it took about 4 to 5 months for for me to put together

the rest the department here and 1/2. What caused the county to start this department. Well, as I mentioned, there's 52 different fire agencies in Sonoma County, and that in itself is kind of probably You could say that there needs to be some coordination of those folks.

There's There was a study done in 1982 83 by a private consulting firm under the direction of the board supervisors and in the county's Fire Safety Committee. Teoh look into what could be done within the within the county to deal with coordinating better, managing, Um, getting

Morris County fire agencies to work together. There was a huge high steady that's right, outline a little bit about what they recommend it. Those three major areas they recommended, the 1st 1 was that that the county should have should try to bring all the fire agencies

into one dispatch center when you have 52 different fires, agencies dispatching, using the same communications frequencies, the same communications systems, but doing their own thing and 50 do different locations, that was that was a real important item that was brought up. Second item was that there

we look towards consolidating or forming a a common focus or perspective four fire agencies in the county. The 3rd 1 was to to actually bring on a county fire marshals position, which was something that's been looked at for a number of years. Interest in the fire

services them to have the county have someone here locally that could kind of kind of bring things together. Fire prevention wise was also a key component. That what? Well, not what. But how is your department Far service structure? Well, we have three primary positions is the

position that I hold a director of the of the department. And then I have a fire marshal, Brian Kelly, who is primarily responsible for all the the fire prevention activities in the unincorporated areas of the county that are not in legal Fire District's Okay, which is

quite a large area, quite a diverse area. Then I have a way have a fire services officer. His name is Tim Exline and his his position is essentially, um, one of a half training officer for the county and half administrative officer in terms of we a

minister volunteer fire company's program Countywide. So that has a lot of programs and dealing with training, but also with insurance programs and things like that that are involved with that were also do provided clerical support by Lee Allen, who has been a great help to us.

Yeah, okay, what county programs do you actually administer? Mind? Well, there's a ZAY said Volunteer Fire Company's program is broken down into essentially three areas. What about that? Is that Break it down? Okay, that's it's There's a county right now provides financial support to the volunteer

fire company's program. There's ah in turn, terms of insurance with the county pays for the liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance for the volunteer fire companies throughout the county. There's 22 of those, um, we also fund a certain amount of of equipment purchase purchases for safety

equipment and communications equipment of trying to assist the volunteer fire comes in providing better fire protection in their areas, and thirdly, we are the focus for their training. Go back on something here. The fire service officer now is that Tim? Excellent. What basically or his duties

is they splits much of his time between actual hands on and court and management of training for the volunteer fire companies and the other part of it is, is working within the county system to make sure that the insurance program and the other support activities that

are office is responsible for are done for the volunteers, which is administration. Yes, sir. Now lets October account Brian Fire Marshal Duties Brian Kelly. As I said, Brian's responsible for fire prevention activities in the unincorporated areas, the county again, we're kind of looking at the areas

that are covered by the volunteer fire. When you say the unincorporated areas, you mean areas that have no volunteer department to have, they have no legal fire jurisdiction. A volunteer fire company is under state laws not identified or recognized as a legal fire entity. Okay, um,

briefly explain the the county's fire suppression contract program. Now, that's something. Before I let Mike explain. Is one point out that everything we're talking about here of efforts that are made to provide better fire protection in this county of Sanaullah, utilizing what we have to save

you and your family, perhaps from death and destruction in here? So I think that each of these moves that they've made need to the things they're doing, there's a vital importance to you all right, s So what about the fire Suppression contract program? How does it

work? And we have, along with along with our program with the volunteers and the Fire Prevention Program. We also have a contract program that previous to this last year was we had a contract. The Department of Force for the county had a contract with Department Force.

You provide fire suppression services in again the unincorporated areas of the county. The program. Right now we're utilizing local fire agencies, fire districts and municipalities. The's agencies provide fire suppression services to the areas that are not covered by any volunteer fire company. And they also support

the volunteer fire companies in their efforts. So it's kind of two full type of program. There are a number of areas in the county that are that don't have any fire protection. Atoll, the this guy's large county, very rural. And and it takes quite a long

time for for us to get fired responses into some of the players chuckle here, But that's vitally important. Facet iss. There's a fire safety committee now. What's its purpose? Well, the Fire Safety Committee is as an advisory committee of the board of supervisors, and its primary

function is one to work with the board on dealing with fire protection matters. The representation on that committee is is quite large in terms of theirs representation of all the different aspects of fire protection in the county, their city fire chiefs, Fire District representation, volunteer fire

company representation, Department of Forestry County Administrators office saying Also, the boards of advisors is represented on my office serves a staff to that to that agency. That's pretty much the makeup of your first mate. How often they meet. They meet bimonthly now just digress for a

minute. What are they? What's Fire Safety Committee currently working on? I got four major programs right now that that they're working on one dealing with. Most of them are focused on what's going on within the fire service community in the county. Have understand the 1st 1

is they're working on trying to revise and update the county's mutual aid program for fire protection. Another one is so working on augmentation funding issues on budget issues, money issues for the Fire Fire Service. 3rd 1 deals with with the integrated response program on kind of

an oversight to that to assist my office and working and as developing the contract program in the incorporate er's further and the 4th 1 if I can. It seems that escaped me at this point. Come back yesterday that it is going like, a matter of fact,

it's a good time with you. You can think about it for a minute. Uh, we're pause right here and have our station radio message, gentlemen, Public service a message. And after that, Might Cahill, director of Fire Services Sonoma County and I will return. When you lend

a helping hand, you give yourself way. Becoming something so much more than words could ever say. A brother to your neighbor and to those in the friend. Won't you give today the United Way? Bring happy less again True love is still the answer. We are still

the way the gift is in giving and then living what we say. This is John Denver, asking you to make your united way pledge now and give for a better tomorrow for all of us. And thanks because thanks to you, it works for all of us.

United way. Welcome back to another edition of Sonoma County in the eighties were talking to Mike Cahill, and he's the director of fire services, forcing over County. And we've been talking about what that office has been doing. As Mike described earlier in the program, there are

52 different agencies providing fire services in Sonoma County. In the past, they have pretty much sort of their own individual area. There has not been a effective coordination between them all. So they're snowmen County Office of Fire Services or Fire Services Division was created. Mike Cahill

was appointed to head it, and Tim exploited Brian Kelly are his to keep people we talked about a moment ago. The four things that the committee was working on, he remember three. Now I think you've remembered the fourth. What is the fourth, as I'm sure I'll

pay for this, probably probably one. The most important items that is being worked on by the committee is one of master planning projecting how the Fire Service will deal with the challenges of the next 25 30 years with the resource is that are going to be

available to us. It's a very important port in item that that the committee is working on it, and you probably will hear about it. Yes, I will. Uh, can you identify some of the most common questions that your office receives from county residents? Maybe by virtue

of our vision here with you know what, communities? We can answer some of them for them, Sure. But what are those questions? Prop. I think the most obvious question that pops into my mind right now is that a lot of people in the county are unfamiliar

with who provides fire fire protection in their area. There's and we were, I guess we are kind of providing a service that were supposed to be revived because we do receive in just a enormous number, phone calls from not only private citizens but also different agencies

there related to fire protection Insurance companies in the like asking for information along those lines. That's probably with largest issue. We also receive a number of fire prevention related type safety questions. Things, for instance, like, How do I How should I be installing my wouldst over

my my flu for gas fired furnaces and things like that? Do you actually handle the questions? Yes, that's Brian does that Marshall is yes, it is generally a couple of times in them. In a recent county reporter, news better, I noted. There were columns about one

was I know about keeping cigarette lighters weight from youngsters. Another was about still February, but they're very, very important. Articles hope the media is getting those and publishing it because they are life saving. And they certainly saves the lives of Children with that cigarette lighter deal.

One of things that we've in the fire service right now are really trying to to focus on is that public education and fire prevention really are where you get more bang for your buck. People associate firefighters with fire engines and fighting fires, but that's such a

small percentage of the of the energy and time that spent by those those resource is we're spending much, much more time on on fire prevention and public education related items. Now you one of the problems that a lot of people have complained about in the past.

I mean, we used to get our cars over Public information office was outside burning. Who regulates outside burning in Sonoma County? Well, that's a That's a good question. There are. There's two major factors on burning outside burning. 1st 1 The one off use, um, is the

air pollution people and we have. We're in this county. We have the opportunity being to Air Pollution Control District's the Bay Area Air Pollution Control District, which essentially covers south portions of the county almost all way up until Windsor and then the North Sonoma County Air

Pollution Control District, which is Windsor Healdsburg area north to the county line. Um, they are very concerned about how people burn because the county's is agriculturally oriented. There's that there's a real influence in the communities for for the ability to burn. But we have kind of,

ah, rural urban interface. It's taking place where the fellow next door has is orchard and he's burning. But the guy next door to him has a four bedroom, two bath house and like to burn what's left over from the construction and would tell them that he

can't. But the guy next door can because he has an agricultural type of piece of property. Fire departments get into burning permits because they need to know where these fires are occurring so that they one that they don't have to run and chase after them. When

someone calls us, as they see smoke coming from someplace in to that, they have some control over the fact that they can get to those people and tell them that's safe way of burning in terms of making sure these clearings around Department of Forestry in the

county has a major major impact on burning. If you live in in what terms state responsibility areas, which essentially is the watershed areas within the county, then you have to get a permit from the Department of Forestry. It's very, very complex situation, and there are a

lot of questions that occur because of them. All right now, being in this complex, working people get additional information regarding any of these questions on burning Well, it gets back to the first question of first. You need to know what fire agency covers your area, okay,

and our first recommendation is to have them contact their local fire jurisdiction. Um, if if they can't contact a local fire jurisdiction, many of the fire agencies in the county are volunteer. There's no one there except when there's an emergency, then they can contact our office

and we'll try to provide them with that. Information department Forestry is also, um, providing information to those people and the air pollution district's can provide. Now. You mentioned earlier central dispatch and it was necessary. I don't know if you covered this Adequate or not who are

what. A central respect Central dispatches the communications portion for fire dispatch in the county. It's It's the function of actually dispatching the fire agencies, the receiving of the call of the emergency and dispatching the fire agencies to the emergency and in the county. Why was the

in the central Fire dispatch system located in the county Sheriff's office? That's, uh, that's another very interesting question, and a lot of discussion took place before I came back to the county with regards that primarily that there was there was a commitment on the part of

the county with the institution of the 911 system. That consolidation of emergency dispatch functions would provide a better service to the community. The Sheriff's Office provides a good portion of law enforcement dispatch. They provide all the law enforcement, dispatching the unincorporated areas, the county. They also

provide the emergency medical services, dispatch the ambulance dispatched throughout the county, except for in a couple of the cities. And now with taking on the fire dispatch system, we really have a full service dispatch center there. Of the 52 different fire agencies, I think at this

point in time is that 35 of those 52 or in in the county central dispatch system, they are your yes and your president right here. Many, if that's important, very, very important, because it's very important. All the people out there that they there that there is

a central dispatch system, thereby they know that they'll get service in response, probably more quickly that they would in this hodgepodge or proactive and going to the sheriff's Department. So how about explaining how the county fire dispatch system is designed? In other words, how will function

Okay? Sure, Asai said. There was. The three primary dispatch functions are under one roof. And if you walk into the dispatch center, there's there's actual locations that that law enforcement dispatchers said that and the M s, the ambles dispatchers. It's added On the other end of

the room, we have fire dispatch consoles. We have two consuls, one of them is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week during fire season, which in this county is during primary during the summertime, um, thesis consuls man during the high peak hours of when

there's more calls. Usually that's from about around 11 in the morning until 11 at night. Something like that. The actual fact that thes deaths are in close proximity to one another provides a lot better communications capabilities for us Countywide in that if most of our calls

now, especially with the use of 911 system or multi agency type responses when you have a medical aid call, you typically have fire and ambulances responding the two dispatchers side by side. And that provides excellent communications capabilities not only in terms of the actual agencies responding

but also the actual dispatchers being able to pass information back and forth to one another. Okay, you know, 911 is comparatively new, appear in his county, and a lot of people don't say 9 11 It's 911 We tried very hard to get that. No, rather, to

get that across to everybody but my commute brain just briefly. What happens when someone dials 911 and asked for the fire department to respond in some county area. Sure, dial 911 on your phone and and a dispatcher in the sheriff's office if you live in the

unincorporated area. The county. You don't live in the city now, but you live in, say, for instance, hot Bloomfield or or Twin Hills or Hessel someplace like that. If you were to dial 911 the call would go directly into the Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center in front

of the dispatchers, a screen small screen about that large, that it shows your address and your phone number, and also who the different emergency responding agencies would be for that area. Okay, once the dispatcher comes on the line and and gets the pertinent information in terms

of what's actually happening from you, um, in case of a fire, they will pass that call to the actual fire dispatcher so that the fire dispatcher takes the information from you. It's somewhat frustrating if you're on the other end of the line. If you don't understand

what's going on, and that's one of reasons why I think it's important for us to talk about this today is that you're actually being sent to the actual dispatcher who will be talking to the responding units. So it's, uh, system Works were very well along those

lines. It's the best of urgency System has get Divide, certainly, for this county has what's called an enhanced 911 system, which allows the dispatcher actually to see who responds in the phone number. Some of the other surrounding counties don't have that, and we're fortunate to happen.

We have about two minutes left to us, and there's one other question I want specifically get across to you. What you see is the most pressing fire related issue facing Sonoma County fire agencies today. Money? Yes, funding sure is, uh, lucky. Yes, it's kind of go

typical response you get from most folks in the local government right now. But funding the fire agencies the volunteer fire companies who essentially do not provide are provided with any tax support beyond what the county gives them Them. The rest of fire agencies, the cities and

the fire districts are are getting theirs for their funds from from property tax. And ever since Prop. 13 that's had that's been limited, to say the least, and their ability to especially the county that's growing like Cinema County is in a county that's going from a

rural atmosphere into a kind of, ah, rural slash urban atmosphere. There's a lot of expectations put on emergency responders to specifically fire agencies, and this county utilizes volunteer fire departments and firefighters, even the cities. For the most part, there's only two cities that don't have volunteers.

So it's anybody out there that really wants to, you know, leave 5 10 million to benefit humanity in Sonoma County. Can you want to be sure to call the Fire Service Agency? What is your number? 5 to 7? 1152? Okay, that's a question that many people

will be asking. I'm sure as a result of our program, we've been talking to my cable, the director of fire services for Sonoma County, and we have learned, I hope that you've been with us a little bit more about how they're coordinating the efforts of 52

different fire providers in the county of Sonoma on they've done a splendid job, but they were trying to work out all the problems funding Of course, as with most any needs right now is a big problem. My name is Richman to the programs. You know we

can in the eighties. I'll be back with you next week and we'll talk to another member of the camera, county government, family or perhaps a related agency until that tonight. Good luck. Good health to you all.