San Rafael Fire Department updates: paramedic award, switch to smoothbore nozzles and apartment fire report

San Rafael’s Fire Commission received several operational updates from department leadership, including an award announcement, equipment changes and an incident report.

The chief reported that Firefighter Paramedic James Irvine “was nominated and received the Cal EMSA Paramedic of the Year award for 2025,” and photos of the presentation are available, officials said.

On equipment, the department has deployed new low‑pressure hose paired with smoothbore nozzles and trained crews on the altered tactics. In a technical explanation officials said smoothbore nozzles provide greater penetrating knockdown and deliver higher flow—one speaker cited a comparison of about “161 gallons per minute versus like 125” for older fog‑nozzle approaches—and that crews have already used the new setup successfully on several fires.

The chief also briefed the commission about a structure fire in Santa Venetia (Venetia Oaks apartment complex at 263 North San Pedro Road) that started in rear personal‑property piles and heavily damaged two units. Four residents were displaced, Red Cross provided assistance, and there were no injuries; cause remains under investigation and the building was described as still structurally sound.

Separately, the Fire Foundation will consider a proposed jet‑ski purchase (about $28,000) at its upcoming meeting; speakers discussed likely placement (Loch Lomond and Station 7) and noted the jet ski’s utility for single‑person water rescues and kite‑boarder incidents. No commission action was taken on the jet‑ski proposal during this meeting.