11s takes on 51s

see pg. 3
Dedicated to Service 11

Second Alarm Fire

see pg. 4

00000

April 2013

0000

Message from the Fire Chief

What? April 16 came along and I totally forgot six years ago, I began my journey as the fire chief here in the San Antonio Fire Department. 2013 has arrived and I didnt realize it was my anniversary until the next day when someone else reminded me of this significant date. As I sat down and reflected over the past six years I was overcome with thought and emotion. The Department has had more accomplishments than I could count over the last six years. I have witnessed huge spectacular fires, dramatic rescues, countless acts of kindness and selflessness provided by our members. Unfortunately, we were not exempt of tragedies. With pain, I remembered several of our members whom we lost or they lost a significant member of their family. Although, I may not have had a relationship with the member that passed or ever met the family. I had the opportunity to create a caring and close relationship with those that were left behind. I am extremely appreciative of these past years, which have allowed me to build and nurture long-lasting relationships with so many of the members. As I was contemplating these life-changing six years, I was surprised to discover the great pride and affection I feel toward the SAFD and its members. It is similar to the feelings a proud dad has when looking at the accomplishments of their children. Then, it came to my mind that in these past years we have come a long way, changes were made and new ideas were introduced. I would like to express my gratitude towards all the members of the SAFD who have been patient, flexible and willing to except change. I truly understand that cultural change in any organization can be difficult, but we have done a great job. Most importantly, while reflecting, I realized that although I am the first fire chief to be hired from outside; the SAFD family welcomed me and continues to embrace me and my family. I am extremely grateful and proud to be your fire chief and to be called a SAFD member. I look forward to many more years.

Contents

Yours in service,

Charles N. Hood, Fire Chief

2 Our Family Protecting your Family

Steak-over challenge
Fire station 11 and fire station 51 competed against each other in the Walmart Steak-Over Challenge March 30. The challenge took place at the Walmart on I-10 and De Zavala. Firefighters cooked their recipes while the public was able to taste and vote for their favorite. Fire station 51 started by using a recipe Firefighter Jason Koch learned from his future father-in-law. However, the recipe had to be modified since they could only use six ingredients and the steak counted as one of them.

It was a fun experience. We had to first figure-out a recipe, we tried many samples until we found the one, said Firefighter Chris Raymond.
Station 51 took the victory and $10,000 dollars for the SAFD community programs. Members of 51s will now go compete against seven other fire stations in Los Angeles. The competitors from fire station 51 were: Koch, Raymond and Captain Tony Rodriguez. However, all their crew was present and showing their support. The competitors from fire station 11 were: Firefighter Larry Jansky, Engineer James Murray and Tony Robles. It is an honor to represent San Antonio and the Department in a national competition, finalized Koch.

Other fire personnel were also present at the event and supported 11s and 51s.

Like us on www.facebook.com/sanantoniofiredepartment

Our Family Protecting your Family 3

fierce fire was reported April 4 at a threestory apartment complex around 1:45 p.m. The first to arrive at the scene with heavy smoke and fire showing was Engine 32. As the firefighters arrived to Castlewood Condominiums, the residents were trying to evacuate the involved structure. However, a resident remained. Engine 32 officer who was in charge, ordered AP32 to rescue the civilian who was located on an apartment balcony. A ground ladder was placed on the railing of the balcony and firefighter Natividad Rodriguez was the first one scaling up the ladder. Suddenly, the ladder started to slide on the railing causing Rodriguez to fall from approximately 20 feet. Id like to recognize Nat for his brave efforts and for wanting to continue even after he got hurt, said Lieutenant Aaron Tilt. Working together, AP32 attended Rodriguez, while E37 quickly and successfully took over the rescue. Tilt, also recognized Robert Medina, Ed Casas, and Mark Hasso who actually rescued the man off the balcony while he and another firefighter were footing the ladder. Assistant Chief Mike Walsh explained the second alarm was called approximately eight to nine minutes after the regular alarm was dispatched due to the fire extent upon arrival, the rescue situation on the third floor,and the injured firefighter. Once the rescue was complete, P32, L6, E19 and Rescue cleared the rest of the apartments from the inside. Crews were able to salvage several peoples personal possessions before the building becametotally untenable.When the involved structure was clear, operations turned defensive with master stream usage. After a defensive strategy was declared and master streams were in use, the roof collapsed in the middle of the apartment building.

The complication was that the roof was still partially intact, thus covering the fire and preventing total extinguishment by the master streams, said Walsh. Captain Jesus Contreras explained there was a time when he thought the fire was going to become a third-alarm. I thought about calling for a third alarm for more resources. However,once we went to a defensive strategy and had the time to rehab the firefighters, the fire started to die down and crews were coming out of Rehab ready for another assignment, said Walsh. There were no other immediate problems to address, sothere was no need to call for another alarm. Once the fire was under control, salvage was done to those apartments that were still intact. Furthermore, master streams continued to be used in order to keep the fire from reigniting under the collapsed roof. Walsh extended his recognition to all the firefighters who responded to the scene. Especially, since the fire wasa worst case scenario involving a largeresidential structure, a fire that hadspread rapidly before the crews arrived on scene, a victimthat neededto be rescued,and an injured firefighter.

This was a good example of our risk management axiom we will risk a lot to save a life and we did, said Walsh.
Unfortunately, one of our ownwasseriously injured. In spite of all the complications, the second alarm fire at Castlewood Condominiums was successfully controlled, the victim was rescued, and the firefighter was treated and transported to the emergency room.

4 Our Family Protecting your Family

Battalion Chief Thomas McNulty explained that Rodriguez is recovering at home and expected to return to full duty in a few months. The fire is still undetermined and investigator Tim Bays adds that it would probably stay undetermined since danger of collapse exists and they are unable to get in and search for the source of the fire. After carefully examining the footage, an educated guess was made by investigators. It appears it probably started in the attic since there was no fire coming out of the windows, said Bays.

Second alarm fire

Our Family Protecting your Family 5

Special Events Division

ithin the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD), there is a Special Events team. The Special Events team consists of five SAFD inspectors who have a variety of assignments and duties. The team is made up of one Captain, one Lieutenant and three Fire Engineers. The team focuses on events that take place at large scale buildings which represent a large capital investment to the City of San Antonio (COSA). Buildings like the Alamodome, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and the Lila Cockrell Theater are included. The team is also involved with Fiesta events, Luminaria, concerts, festivals, and assemblies throughout the city. The Special Events team also reviews every event that uses pyrotechnics in San Antonio. They also work closely with Fiesta Texas and Sea World and one inspector is devoted to night club inspections. Lieutenant Ruben Cabello states that their input and presence at these events is imperative. During the Rodeo and Fiesta, there are several venues operating simultaneously. The Rodeo, for example, has a carnival, a midway and concerts taking place all at the same time. During Fiesta, the Market Square, NIOSA, Fiesta Carnival and many other venues operate at the same time. He also explains that during events at the Alamodome and the AT& T Center, there are usually at least three people on duty. Their duties include monitoring the fire alarm panel, identifying and mitigating fire hazards and making sure exits are free and clear. Furthermore, we have to make sure everybody exits the building in a safe manner, added Cabello. We are present at any event where we feel the Fire Code requires an inspector to be on-site. Our main objective is to prevent fires, Captain Richard Hernandez said. For instance, to prevent fires this year the Special Events team did not allow the use of Taiwanese Sky Lanterns during the Luminaria art event which was held at Hemisfair Park. It was too risky, said Hernandez. According to Cabello, another test they face is at bingo halls where senior citizens may have a challenge in evacuating. If we didnt have this program, people would do whatever they want, and more accidents would be occurring, said Hernandez. We are trying to prevent fires and disasters. If interested in the division, Captain Hernandez said there would be openings soon.

If we didnt have this program, people would do whatever they want, and more accidents would be occurring, said Hernandez.

6 Our Family Protecting your Family

RR

ecognize & Be ecognized

Since 2007, the San Antonio Fire Department has been having Employee Recognition Ceremonies two times per year. At these ceremonies, the Department honors individuals that have recently promoted, individuals that have recently retired, and individuals that have been identified by peers, supervisors or the public as having performed heroic acts or provided exceptional service. The next Employee Recognition Ceremony is schedule for mid-summer. The ceremony is open to all employees. Working hand in hand with the Employee Recognition Ceremony is our Awards Program, also established in 2007. The purpose of this program is to recognized members who perform outstanding acts of valor or meritorious service. The Awards Program provides an avenue to identify personnel deserving of special recognition. The program has eight different awards, some of which may be given during the Bi-annual Recognition Ceremony. The eight awards are as follows: Letter of Appreciation This award is awarded at the discretion of any supervisor or Fire Chief Office at any time conditions warrant recognition for services rendered. The committee encourages supervisors to write a letter of appreciation when they observe an individual have performed and extraordinary job. This type of award is not presented during the awards ceremony. Fire Chiefs Service Award This award is awarded at the sole discretion of the Fire Chief to a member who performed outstanding service. Certificate of Exemplary Performance Its awarded to any member for outstanding service to the department, fire service or the public. Unit Citation Its awarded to a unit whose performance was an unequal effort in overcoming obstacles in order to protect a life or property. Citation of Merit This award is given to a member who saved a life or attempts to save the life of a human being from serious danger. San Antonio Fire Department Purple Heart The award is to be awarded to any member who has become a victim of an injury sustained while on duty and involved in an emergency incident or training. Maltese Cross The award is awarded to those who perform a courageous act under conditions of extreme danger and at the exceptional risk of bodily injury. Medal of Honor The highest award presented by the SAFD. The award shall be awarded to any member who distinguish himself or herself in a conspicuous manner at the extreme risk of his/her life voluntary. The award is also awarded anytime a member is killed while on duty, as a result of an emergency operation. FSC-IC TECH, Danny Wilks says Positive recognition encourages good morale. He went on to say, Although many actions worthy of recognition are being performed every day, too often, we dont get that information. The committee encourages the submission s of candidates. In order to nominate someone, all you have to do is complete an Employee Recognition Form and e-mail it to Fire.Awards/ Recognition@sanantonio.gov. Nomination forms are available in the Forms folder located on all station computers. Please provide sufficient details when filling out the Reason for Recognition section. Painting a clear picture of the acts of heroism or exemplary service helps reviewers determine the appropriate award type. Hard copies of nominations that are forwarded through the chain of command will also be accepted. For more details on the Awards Program, please refer to the Policies section on Sharepoint. Use the Search function and type in the word, Awards and it should be the listed as GI 2 Award Program GO 07003.

Our Family Protecting your Family 7

Celebrity of the Month

Fate was what brought Jose A. Salame to the San Antonio Fire Department. Having retired from the Armed Forces, he and his brother worked as painting contractors alongside Captain Ernie DeLorenzo. Salames brother and DeLorenzo became friends and soon, Salame and his brother signed up to take the Fire Department Entrance Exam. Ironically, only Jose Salame passed the test. However, Salame didnt know anyone in the department and was not sure that becoming a firefighter was what he wanted. Yet, becoming aware his mother and family were proud of him for his accomplishment and becoming part of the Fire Department, he gained the drive to continue with this journey. But, it was after graduating from the Fire Academy that he realized what an awesome job he had walked into. Upon graduating from the Fire Academy , he was assigned to Fire Station #13. Later, he was transferred to fire station #16 where he promoted to Engineer and he realized he wanted to become an Arson Investigator after responding to a structure fire in the Cassiano Homes on the west side of town. After we put the fire out, the Arson Investigators arrived the scene and I was very impressed with them. It was then that I decided I wanted to be an Arson Investigator, said Salame. He was then transferred to fire station 4 and in 1988 he joined the EMS forces. However, Salame was determined to achieve his goal of becoming an investigator. So, in 1993, he applied and on December #4th, of the same year, he was assigned to Arson. Salames favorite task as an investigator was being able to interact with the public whether it was dealing with suspects or talking to witnesses or complainants. Salame was very passionate about what became his vocation, being an Arson Investigator. His enthusiasm was shown on every case and task assigned and he was even awarded the Star Award by the city manager. Salame and his partner received the award for their assistance in solving a homicide case where they were able to obtain further information and a confession. After that, Anthony and I considered ourselves the A team in the arson office, said Salame. Although, nobody else in our office did. The A team duo was very agile when it came to solving cases. For instance, within a 24 hour period they were able to locate, identify, and question the responsible individual for setting multiple church fires. On this case the whole arson squad, ATF, FBI, SAPD, Sheriffs Office and several other police agencies were also involved. Furthermore, it was Salame and his partner Investigator Anthony Guerrero who successfully acquired a confession. Although, he is very Fire Station #13. It all started when Firefighter, Robert De La Luz, was washing his car and threw a wet sponge at me, Said Salame. He hit me in the back and I returned the sponge, after I put it in a pail of water. The water fight continued through the station and ended in the kitchen with them throwing pails of water at each other. Both, Robert and Salame got in trouble because the next day at shift change, the station and kitchen were still wet. ***Picture provided by Bertha Soto

8 Our Family Protecting your Family

thankful for the many people who have made a difference in his career at the SAFD, he recognized Chief Art Villarreal who was always helping him to become a better investigator, while he was Salames captain. He also expresses his appreciation to his longtime partner, Anthony Guerrero, who through the years has become another brother. Very happily and with a smile on his face, Salame also remembered his good times working at the fire stations. One of his best memories was a water fight while working at

For Salame, family is crucial in the success of an individual, being one of ten children. He expressed that grew up very poor but they just never knew that because they were very happy. Neither of his parents had an education and both worked very hard to providefor their children. Salames dad was a barber and his mom only worked for short periods of time. Today, Salame has a family of his own. He has six children and has been married for the past 16 years. Salame has retired, but having been in the department for 32 years, he realized and advises firefighters to enjoy their job and position. Dont let too much time go by before you promote to the next level. It is very easy to get comfortable in a position, but one day you retire and then you feel like you should have studied and promoted to a higher position, said Salame. Take

Joe Salame

care of your job. Salame indicates he has been very blessed to have such a good job, a good career and so many years of success which were made possible thanks to the City of San Antonio , the Fire Department, and the Arson Bureau.

Salame plans to enjoy his retired life buying depressed houses, fixing them, and then selling them. Thank you, concluded Salame.

SAFD History

***Special thanks to Hector J. Cardenas, SAFD Museum Society, for providing the facts for the story.

After Fire Chief L. P. Peck retired, Gustav A. Duerler served as Fire Chief. As soon as he got to office he called for additional equipment such as horses and fire alarm boxes. Furthermore, it was under his administration that the Fire Department re-organized in order to upgrade the efficiency and correct problems that arose during the first organization. The reorganization included an ordinance, which enumerated the duties of personnel at each fire station, rules governing the eligibility of deputy chiefs, uniform standards, and police duties of fire chiefs. In addition, obligations of the general public were also adopted. Fire Chief Duerler was only in office for a year but his commitment for improvement was significant for the future development of the department. Our Family Protecting your Family 9

Fiscal News Flash

PPE Gear Update
Have you gotten a call that your gear is ready for pick-up?
It is important to pick up your gear from Cowboy Cleaners after repairs are done or when you are receiving new gear as invoices for these items must be paid quickly. Once youve signed for the gear, Fiscal can then pay the vendor for their services.

Commissary Update Did you know theres a new brand for job shirts?
Due to manufacturer issues, the Lions brand job shirt is no longer available. Galls has changed over to the 5.11 brand and samples have been sent to the Galls Service Center so the SAFD personnel will be able to try them on as they will fit differently from the Lions brand you had been ordering. Any outstanding orders were cancelled and credit was issued to your allowance. As stated on the return policy, which can be located on the Galls SAFD website, customized merchandise can only be returned for credit or exchanged when the error is Galls. Please go by the service center in order to try on the 5.11 job shirt before ordering as exchanges will not be processed for ordering the wrong size.

What changes will occur due to the opening of the new Services facility?
The Galls Service Center will remain in its current location until September 30, 2013. As the shops move to their new location, a secured entry system will be implemented. To gain access to the Galls Service Center, once the shops are gone, please ring the bell at the front entry door (Zarzamora side) and you will be granted access by the Galls customer service representative. Galls store hours will be 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, except for official City holidays.

Do you have complaints or concerns that relate to the Commissary?

Email your commissary complaints or concerns to commissary.complaints@sanantonio.gov. This email is checked on a weekly basis, so that your concerns are addressed in a timely manner. Your use of this email address will help us to ensure you receive the best customer service possible. Without your feedback, issues often go unnoticed.

10 Our Family Protecting your Family

Health & Wellness

Eat Right When Your Budget is Tight!
Shopping is often considered a challenging experience especially if one is working on a tight budget. Sure, grocery products are not cheap anymore; however, wise planning and a little bit of research will enable you to buy foods that are inexpensive yet healthy. Here are some tips that can help our SAFD community with information on how to shop wise: Make a list of items you need that stay within your budget. Note the products that you already have and then write down the exact amount of each item to be purchased. Certain items such as cans of tuna fish or vegetables, dried pasta, brown rice and jars of spaghetti sauce can be purchased in bulk during sales. However, always check the expiration date to avoid stocking up on soon-to-expire products. Avoid buying frozen vegetables in boxes; these are usually expensive as compared to vegetables sold in bags. In-season fresh vegetables and fruits are usually cheaper than the ones that are not. Take advantage of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Potatoes, onions, apples, oranges and tangerines purchased in bags are usually cheaper than the ones purchased loose, by-weight. Avoid shopping when you are upset or hungry. One generally tends to buy unhealthy foods such as a bag of chips or candy during these times. Avoid buying products just because they look fancy. You pay more money for covering the packaging costs of these foods than the actual cost of the contents. Read the nutrition facts carefully. Choose foods that are: Low fat 3 grams or less of total fat per serving; High fiber 2.5 grams or higher of fiber per serving; Low cholesterol 20 milligrams or less per serving; Low sodium 140 milligrams or less per serving; Low sugar less than 8 grams of sugar per serving for sugary snacks If time permits, buy products that build a recipe from scratch. Generally, ready to eat foods are more expensive and also high in salt, fat or sugar. Remember, all that is required is some careful planning and organization to shop for healthy foods. Our Family Protecting your Family 11

Recipes of the Month

Replacement Fund
The first time a vehicle is acquired, the funding is provided to the requesting department based on established criteria, need, and approval by the Office of Management and Budget. After the newly budgeted item is received and put in service, it is placed in the Equipment Renewal and Replacement Fund (ERRF) in anticipation of its replacement in the future. The ERRF then charges a monthly replacement fee the entire time a department has possession of the vehicle. When the vehicle reaches the end of its scheduled life, the ERRF provides the financial resources for the replacement of a similar type of unit. Its like making payments on a vehicle, but in reverse since we dont have to borrow money and pay interest but instead we first collect the funds and then make the purchase, said Deputy Chief Carl Wedige. The planning and forecasting for replacement vehicles and equipment occurs a year in advance. Building and Equipment Services works with departments to obtain forecasted replacements. Vehicles and equipment that meet their expected life cycle are sold at auction after the replacement unit is received. These funds are then placed back in the ERRF. The monthly replacement fees paid by the department and the auction sales proceeds are used to acquire new similar vehicles and equipment for the same department that operated the sold fleet asset. The optimal point to replace a vehicle, or life cycle, is based on its projected value of the unit at the time of sale and projected repair costs. There are different types of replacement criteria for different types of vehicles. Some vehicles are replaced on miles or engine hours; some are based on months in service and some based on either miles/hours or months in service, whichever comes first. For example, ambulances are replaced about every four years and fire apparatus about every 15 years. Each year, a program produces a list of candidate vehicles and equipment to be replaced the following fiscal year. This list is reviewed for accuracy and then forwarded to Budget to be included in the following years budget. A plan is then developed to go out for bid by each vehicle and equipment type on the list and these items are acquired if they are approved by City Council. The Fire Department has vehicles forecasted to be acquired for next year but this list has not been finalized or approved by City Council. The following is an example of a vehicle in the ERRF: New pickup truck costs $20,000. Truck projected to be worth $4,000 or 20 percent of original cost in ten years. Inflation projected to be approximately 2 percent per year for this type of vehicle. ERRF collects 120 depreciation payments at $133 plus an inflation factor. Replacement vehicle costs about $24,000 in 10 years.

***Special thanks to Kevin Fareri, Fleet Acquisitions Administrator, for providing the story.

Transaction Example Monthly Payments of Depreciation: 120 x $133 Monthly Payments of Inflation (approximate) 120 x 2 % Auction Sales Proceeds Total Amount of Transaction for Replacement in 10 Years 12 Our Family Protecting your Family

$ Amount $16,000 $4,000 $4,000 $24,000

mily G. Kidd, MD shared, through an interview her future plans as Interim Medical Director for the San Antonio Fire Department.

What are your plans as the interim SAFD Medical Director? Any new implementations or programs?

As the medical director during this interim period, I plan to ensure that all our medics are comfortable with the new drugs, equipment, and protocol changes that have been implemented over the past several years.

Do you plan to make any changes?

I would like to continue to improve communication and collaboration between our office and the men and women who operate in the field every day. I hope to form stakeholder groups to provide input to the Office of the Medical Director on the upcoming SMOPS revision and on any big changes in patient care we may implement in the future. I also plan to make the Quality Assurance process more timely and consistent, with notification to crews prior to a QA or case review.

Are you interested in becoming the permanent medical director? Why?

What is your vision?

My vision is that the San Antonio Fire Department will be seen as a national leader in innovative and excellent pre-hospital and fire-based EMS care.

What are the challenges and how do you plan to overcome them?

One of the challenges I foresee is keeping communication flowing both ways between the Office of the Medical Director and SAFD personnel. This is critical to gaining consensus and maintaining teamwork in providing the best possible patient care, and continuing to move the Department forward. As stated above, I hope to have stakeholder groups for discussion on changes in medical care, and plan to have regular meetings with the leadership of the Fire Department to assure openness in communication. Another challenge is keeping up with the ever-changing data and research which leads to continuous improvements in care in the world of emergency and prehospital medicine. We must keep up with the research and data to assure we not only maintain the standard of care and prevent stagnation, but also that SAFD continues to be a major contributor to research and increasing knowledge in our field.

At this time, I do plan to compete for the permanent position of Medical Director for the San Antonio Fire Department. I have been involved in EMS since college and went into emergency medicine with the intent of becoming an EMS Medical Director. I was born and raised in San Antonio and have a deep love of this city and its people. Being the Medical Director for the San Antonio Fire Department has always been a career goal of mine. My past few years with SAFD have just solidified my commitment to this department. Kidd attended college at Texas A&M University where she was an EMT for the campus 911 system, then medical school at UT Medical School at Houston. During medical school, she continued her EMS work, part-time, for the 911 service in Pasadena, Texas. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at the Brody School of Medicine / Pitt County Memorial Hospital in North Carolina, and then practiced emergency medicine in Texas for several years before becoming an Assistant Medical Director for the Houston Fire Department in 2005. Kidd then joined UTHSCSA in 2009, to become the Assistant Medical Director for the SAFD. I am honored to work with such a dedicated group of professionals, the men and women of the San Antonio Fire Department. We all have the same goal providing the best and most up-to-date care possible for our citizens and visitors, said Kidd. I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with this department and always welcome your thoughts and ideas for how we continue to strive to be the best pre-hospital and fire-based EMS provider in this country!

Our Family Protecting your Family 13

PAWPER PAWPER

A very lucky dog was rescued by HAZMAT 1 and Rescue 11 on February 22. The teams were dispatched to a sewer manhole under the North Walters Street Bridge near the Union Pacific rail yards. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the dog at the bottom of an approximately 20+ foot deep manhole. BC Connie Hall took command of the incident while Lieutenant Juan Velez and Captain Will Prichitt headed up the rescue effort. In addition, Captain Mark Trevino and Hazmat 1 conducted continuous air monitoring, Engineer Albert Rodriguez coordinated the haul team and Engineer Rick Baring went down the hole with FF Kris Dean on standby. The firefighters successfully perform a confined-space rescue of the dog utilizing rope rescue techniques and equipment, air monitoring, and other specialized equipment/skills. Initially, the crews named the dog Walter, because she was found on that street. However, they soon found out she was a her. Rescue 11 took the dog back to their station for decontamination and examination. During decontamination and cleaning, they discovered she had a several small lacerations on her back left paw and was favoring her right front paw. The rescued dog was taken by firefighter Brian Descheness wife to the Animal Hospital of Westover Hills where Dr. Sharp graciously performed a physical exam including X-Rays and blood work. X-Rays revealed no fractures but a probable ligament tear in the right front leg. It was there that FF Descheness wife and the veterinarian agreed she needed another name; so in reference to her injured front leg she was named Pawper. Pawper was then referred to South Texas Veterinary Specialists for a consult, where Dr. Israel agreed to perform surgery on Pawpers right front leg at a greatly discounted price. Donations from firefighters and the public were raised to cover the difference. Over the past two months, Pawper has made a significant recovery and has found a forever home.

***Picture provided by Brian Descheness

FF Pointers
Advice from Battalion Chief Ranulfo Rodriguez Hold on to the enthusiasm, vigor and hopes of your 1st days on the job. Its never too late to become the fire fighter you hoped you would be. Be the fire fighter your spouse, your children and your parents would be proud of. Dont sit while others work.

14 Our Family Protecting your Family

***Picture provided by SAOEM

HEB Health & Wellness Expo

On April 6, the San Antonio Fire Department was part of the Annual HEB Health and Wellness Expo where they helped raise community awareness. The Expo took place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and Rescue 51, HAZMAT 1, Sparky, and the San Antonio Fire Museum society participated. In addition, the SAFD Backdraft band was in charge of the music.

Challenge Coin
On April 10th, Chief Lawrence Trevino, Emergency Manager for the City of San Antonio, met Lieutenant General Caldwell, the Commanding General of United States Army North (Fifth Army) during the 2013 military affairs committee meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Greater Chamber of Commerce at their San Antonio downtown location. The key note speaker was General Caldwell. Chief Trevino and General Caldwell spent much of their time talking about emergency preparedness and response during the reception. Before the reception was over, Chief Trevino gave General Caldwell a San Antonio Office of Emergency Management (SAOEM) challenge coin; a symbolic gesture, solidifying an already strong relationship between the City of San Antonio and the Department of Defense. This act was significant because of the tradition for General Officers to hand out challenge coins for excellence, but not usually to receive them.

To make sure San Antonians get the Fiesta celebrations started on the right foot, the SAFD and SAPD decided to collaborate and create Fiesta de los Jefes Public Safety Fair. The safety fair took place at the Public Safety Headquarters April 13. This is the first year the fair takes place and both departments hope this event becomes a tradition. We plan to make it an annual kick-off to fiesta, said Engineer Deborah Foster, PIO. Around 250 civilians and many firefighters came to support the event for a total of 350 attendees. The public enjoyed the mariachis and had the opportunity to learn about the resources offered by both fire and police. Hazmat, Technical Rescue, and Safety and Education are a few of the many resources the public was able to learn about. Attendees also learned about DUI safety, which is a common offense during Fiesta. Last year, the SAPD arrested 318 citizens for DWI, between April 18-28. The inaugural Fiesta de los Jefes was attended by both Fire Chief Charles Hood and Police Chief William McManus.

Our Family Protecting your Family 15

Fire & EMS Responses

FIRE Runs Unit Number Number of YTD
Engine E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 E06 E07 E08 E09 E10 E11 E12 E13 E14 E15 E16 E17 E18 E19 E20 E21 E22 E23 E24 E25 E26 E27 E28 E29 E30 E31 E32 E33 E34 E35 E36 E37 E38 E39 E40 E41 E42 E43 E44 E45 E46 E47 E48 E49 E50 E51 Runs 99 215 174 204 145 144 124 187 179 257 209 54 163 144 207 193 225 255 285 169 254 115 102 308 256 210 216 230 190 177 186 314 194 109 239 171 204 198 249 189 135 170 153 316 189 78 51 118 106 49 141 322 613 469 567 440 487 380 484 510 693 599 156 486 374 581 601 665 710 857 496 729 352 279 881 719 566 634 687 563 489 544 920 617 290 630 518 560 587 688 557 424 458 381 898 559 272 122 310 270 146 372

EMS Runs Unit Number of YTD

Number M01 M02 M04 M05 M06 M07 M08 M09 M10 M11 M13 M14 M15 M16 M17 M18 M19 M21 M22 M24 M25 M26 M27 M28 M29 M31 M32 M33 M34 M35 M36 M37 M38 M39 M40 M41 M42 M43 M44 M45 M46 Runs 395 80 131 349 395 404 400 390 403 190 365 289 390 391 351 333 365 169 331 400 384 116 435 345 383 317 182 389 245 368 308 372 337 368 141 277 311 30 383 242 198 1147 245 406 959 1122 1094 1163 1118 1155 540 1089 799 1123 1147 966 987 1085 467 972 1153 1051 368 1160 972 1093 892 575 1168 666 1069 867 1051 937 1027 440 764 893 122 1038 763 521

Ladders
L01 L06 L08 L09 L14 L17 L22 L29 L33 L34 L35 L36 L37 L40 L41 L46 AP01 AP11 AP32 AP38 AP51 0 153 110 177 127 221 126 160 193 80 205 165 189 205 125 113 121 218 279 169 127 3,263

Other Units
AC26 AC29 AC39 AC41 FSC FSO HR11 HR51 R7 RHB1 WT22 WT25 WT43 AIR1 AIR2 AIR3 AIR4 AIR5 BIK1 BIK2 BIK3 BIK4 MOF1 MOF2 MOF3 MOF4 MSC R5 11 15 0 2 10 19 101 51 8 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 141 109 95 86 0 45

Totals
HZM1 HZM34 SPL1 SPL34

153 454 398 471 353 581 379 499 557 215 586 484 509 546 370 266 177 583 769 484 337 9,171

YTD

YTD

Haz Mat

13 5 14 6

39 12 36 16 103

Totals

38

Totals 700 1,911

12 30 0 21 19 50 261 123 23 4 0 2 0 1 3 0 2 1 7 4 0 0 408 300 254 277 2 107

Brush Trucks
BT20 BT22 BT30 BT36 BT40 BT42 BT43 BT44 BT48 BT50
Totals

Squads
SQ01 SQ08 SQ09 SQ11 SQ14 SQ17 SQ22 SQ29 SQ32 SQ33 SQ34 SQ35 SQ36 SQ37 SQ38 SQ40 SQ44 SQ46 19 78 41 132 53 153 53 125 27 73 3 41 29 52 73 245 203 529 43 135 25 70 33 132 82 267 80 213 55 182 72 217 11 15 14 41 916 2,700

9 10 14 9 5 11 8 11 5 0
82

25 19 32 32 11 25 14 33 16 3
210

Totals

9,249 26,512

Totals

12,652

36,174

Totals