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Redondo Beach fire division reports staffing gains, structure fire response and regional wildfire deployments
Summary
The fire division told the Public Safety Commission on Feb. 27 it is nearly fully staffed, promoted three boat captains, hired two paramedics who rose through the department's explorer program and supported regional wildfire response with two engines for 16 days.
A Redondo Beach Fire Department division chief reported to the Public Safety Commission on Feb. 27 that the department is meeting staffing targets, promoted three boat captains after a new boat-captain test and recently hired two paramedics who came through the department's explorer program.
The division chief said city fire crews handled about 1,100 calls through Feb. 25 in the year-to-date tally he prepared for the commission, with roughly 75% of calls classified as emergency medical service (EMS) runs. Of the roughly 25 fire responses in that tally, 13 were building fires and the remainder included rubbish and vehicle fires.
The division chief described a recent structure fire on Avenue G that was confined to one unit and knocked down quickly; the department's community-relief fund placed the displaced resident in a hotel for several days, he said.
The department deployed two engines to recent Southern California wildfires for 16 days and sent an additional engine and a division chief as a third strike team for three days. "Great work by all the crews," the division chief told commissioners, and he said the deployments provided valuable training and experience.
Promotions and staffing changes were highlights: the department's boat-captain test produced three promotions that the chief said will ensure two captains are on every shift; an engineer's promotional test was imminent and probationary firefighters were nearing the end of their probationary periods.
Commissioners asked how the community-relief fund is financed; the division chief said the fund is supported by local events, donations and occasional fundraising at open houses and noted the fund is used for short-term assistance such as hotel stays for displaced residents.
Ending: The commission thanked fire staff for the response to recent fires and requested that the department share upcoming community-relief fund events and other volunteer opportunities with the commission and the public.
