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Dear
District Members:
I am pleased
to report the accomplishments of First
Responder, FAN (Fill-A-Need) and GGFPD
Board volunteers in 2009. Their
achievements establish a foundation that
enables GGFPD to better perform its
Mission in 2010 and beyond. A parallel
Newsletter article outlines plans for
2010 and beyond. In both articles, you
see the results of a focused commitment
to the GGFPD Culture, Vision and
Mission. Beginning this month we will do
a better job of communicating results
through a monthly Golden Gate Fire
E-Letter. To receive The Golden Gate
Fire E-Letter, please send your email
address, name and address to:
goldengatefirenews@gmail.com
2009 Review
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We have
13 first responders and 3 new
applicants, as well as 4 Wildland
team members.
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All
first responders have advanced
training: 4 EMT’s; 1 Paramedic; 3
First Responder; 2 Firefighter I; 12
Wildland
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In 2009,
our first responders responded to 26
medical calls, 23 rescue calls and11
Fire/Smoke calls.
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A 15,000
gallon cistern was coordinated with
and installed by Jeffco in
Centennial Cone (West) Open Space.
It is available for Wildland and
structure firefighting in GGFPD.
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In spite
of 60% Board turnover in 2009 (due
principally to illness and
out-of-district moves),
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the
important January, 2009 NEEDS Survey
provided continuity and focus,
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which
led to reengaging the community
(GOAL 250) and a 500% increase in
GGFPD community participation from
28 people to over 170 between
January 2009 and December
2009-including increasing First
Responders from 12 to 13 plus 3 new
applicants and Wildland Volunteers
from 2 to 4. GOAL 250 was designed
to encourage 250 district residents
to in some way annually volunteer
time and /or money to GGFPD by
December 31, 2012. We are ahead of
that schedule and have increased it
to GOAL 500 in order to achieve our
Mission as outlined in the parallel
article.
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GGFPD
developed the innovative Fill-A-Need
(FAN) Volunteer as a means of
reducing administrative, maintenance
and other non-emergency duties
falling upon first responders who
must train weekly and also give
their time for formal training as
well as emergency calls.
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The
results of the FAN volunteer program
has increased readiness, improved
morale and created more time for
First Responder training.
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GGFPD
defined and communicated its
Culture, Vision and Mission.
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GGFPD
developed Department and FAN
Volunteer logos and with them
reestablished a District identity
that had been missing.
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With
funds from a directed FAN
contribution, GGFPD installed new
signs containing the new logos at
both Stations to provide needed and
welcomed identity for both the
community and First Responders.
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GGFPD
FANs raised over $27,725 from
residents,
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of which
$24,525 was to fund the EUV/FR for
Wildland fire fighting and medical
rescue.
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GGFPD
raised over $30,000 in grants for
equipment to recharge first
responder air tanks, and $11,790 in
grants for medical equipment.
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GGFPD
obtained over $30,000 in fire
mitigation grants that benefitted
homeowners who completed fire
mitigation work.
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FAN
Volunteers conducted fire mitigation
on 5 acres around Station 2 to
reduce its Wildfire vulnerability.
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GGFPD
FANs initiated a critical Water
Management Task Force to: (1)
identify sources of RELIABLE water,
(2) to engage the Board, Department
and cistern owners with a Voluntary
Cistern Compliance Audit (“VCA”) to
ensure “RELIABLE” water, (3) to
upgrade unreliable water to Reliable
status, and (4) to identify a new
paradigm for managing firefighting
water in the District.
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GGFPD
FANs eliminated safety omissions in
Stations 1 and 2 and remodeled
Station 1 to provide clean,
attractive work space to enhance
First Responder morale, recruiting
and training facilities.
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GGFPD is
working on procuring a replacement
Rescue truck for the old, two-wheel
drive, problematic #881 at Station
2.
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GGFPD
has commenced a major effort to
replace the low frequency
communications system with a system
that will eliminate blind spots in
the District and be compatible with
mutual aid.
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A GGFPD
FAN installed the first wireless
Internet network in Station 1 to
support first responders.
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GGFPD
replaced an old office computer
system that could not support
operations.
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GGFPD
reduced expense related to the
Station 2 lease and used the money
to hire a firm to improve the
District’s financial management
information, to improve the
probability of obtaining grants, and
to ensure continuity of financial
and compliance requirements across
Board generations.
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GGFPD
began examining expansion or
replacement of Station 1 to provide
necessary facilities to serve over
225 homes in the Guy Hill, Robinson
Hill and Douglas Mountain area.
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GGFPD
completed a 2010 NEEDS Survey that
provides a roadmap for the future.
Highlights are discussed in the
parallel article, and a copy is
available by email from
goldengatefirenews@gmail.com.
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In 2009
GGFPD developed a new Leadership
Model that provides insight into
GGFPD’s Mission requirements. The
Leadership Model describes the
interdependence of: 1. PEOPLE
(Community, First Responders, and
FAN Volunteers); 2. MONEY (Taxes and
Fees, Grants, Gifts and Events);
and, 3. OPERATIONS (Operating
Requirements, Facilities, and
Equipment), 4. Water, 5. MUTUAL AID,
and 6. Communications to successful
achievement of the GGFPD Mission for
our customers.
2010
Overview
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In 2010
top priorities remain (1) laser-like
focus on GGFPD’s Mission, (2)
building an inclusive Culture, (3)
accelerating leadership urgency, (4)
proactively and creatively engaging
the community, (5) improving
management (by walking around and
increasing measurement in all of
GGFPD’s functions), (6) accelerating
recruiting and training first
responders, ( 2 are now enrolled for
EMT training, 1 for First Responder,
and 5 in Firefighter I Academy) and,
(7) water management. In addition,
after years of neglect GGFPD’s
capital equipment needs major
attention:
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Station
1 must be expanded or replaced to
accommodate essential Mission
vehicles: (1) a new structure fire
fighting truck, (2) the existing
Wildland truck, (3) a new rescue
truck, (4) the EUV/FR (5) two tanker
vehicles (6) a larger training room,
and (7) future requirements.
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Station
2 requires $23,000 of repairs on
vehicles including a major overhauls
on #870-the 3,000 gallon tanker.
GGFPD also needs to implement a new
water management paradigm. The
likely paradigm requires new
50,000-gallon water cisterns at
Station 1 and 2 complimented by a
smaller number of intensely managed
large (10,000-30,000 gallon) private
cisterns as the best way to provide
RELIABLE water for firefighting. In
addition, better coordination with
mutual aid districts is needed. All
of this requires a major effort at
finding and writing grants and a
more robust fund raising effort. Our
goal is to achieve the capital
requirements necessary to perform
the GGFPD Mission over the next five
years, WITHOUT INCREASING THE MILL
LEVY.
Can GGFPD do
it?
We can’t, if
we don’t try… And, we must do it for our
families and neighbors, because no one
else can or will.
First and
foremost, SUCCESS REQUIRES YOUR
PARTICIPATION in building a community
around GGFPD. There is no other
organization such as a school, church,
community service club or business that
spans GGFPD’s geography and can provide
community unity. GGFPD needs you to
participate with voluntary contributions
of both time and money.
Many hands
make light work and help us to protect
your loved ones.
Thank you
for your support in 2009 and for helping
us to make 2010 even better,
Barbara Crawford
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