A Typical Day:
0800:
Each shift’s day officially starts at 0800. However …
…barring emergency calls our normal routine is to arrive at 0715-0730, gather our personal equipment and relieve the person riding in our spot from the shift prior.
After receiving a briefing from he/she about the previous day’s activities, ongoing projects, lessons learned, equipment deficiencies, etc. we do a brief check of all equipment on our assigned apparatus.
Then, at 0800 we have a morning meeting in the captains office to outline the day.
0830:
At approximately 0830 we participate in…
…physical conditioning, everything from running, to stair climbers, to circuit training in full structural firefighting PPE (personal protective equipment).
1000:
At 1000 we transition to…
…training, equipment maintenance, work related projects.
Throughout the course of the week all equipment at both stations is confirmed to be in working order, or not, and solution to repair identified.
1200:
At approximately 1200…
…we try and break for lunch.
1300:
At approximately 1300 We pick back up…
…with wherever we left off with training, maintenance, projects.
The heavy emphasis on maintenance is based on the extreme importance of our equipment functioning when its needed.
As far as projects go that can be anything from creating pre-plans for target hazard addresses in the district to ordering EMS supplies, to updating radio communications plans, to coordinating with Santa Barbara City and County fire for an upcoming over the side rescue drill off Gilbraltor Road.
All admin functions and agency progression on the floor side of the district comes from the guys and gals on the floor, the firefighters.
1600:
At 1600 we transition…
…from training, maintenance, projects to dinner preparation.
1800:
At approximately 1800 the routine becomes…
…more relaxed but the expectation is to continue contributing to the betterment of the department in some fashion until…
2100:
2100 at which time…
…guys typically start prepping their equipment for response from bed, and if the night allows the crews attempt to get some rest.
Shifts A, B and C:
A Shift: Batallion Chief Scott Chapman, Captain Jeff Villarreal, Captain Ben Hauser, Engineer Dana St. Oegger, Engineer Mike Elliott, FF/Paramedic Kurt Hickman, FF/Paramedic Ryland McCracken, FF/Paramedic Garet Blake, FF Dan Arnold, FF David Johnson, Dispatcher Leslie Muller
B Shift: Batallion Chief Travis Ederer, Captain Aaron Briner, Captain Evan Skei, Engineer Jordan Zeitsoff, Engineer Rodney Walkup, FF/Paramedic Alex Broumand, FF/Paramedic Brandon Benewatte, FF/Paramedic Shawn Whilt, FF Lucas Grant, FF Nick Eubank, FF Steve Cochran, Dispatcher Jennifer Taylor
C Shift: Batallion Chief Alan Widling, Captain Drue Holthe, Captain Shaun Davis, Engineer Loren Bass, Engineer Ed Fuentes, FF/Paramedic Robert Galbraith, FF/Paramedic Andy Rupp, FF/Paramedic Kevin French, FF Eric Klemowicz, FF Keith Powell, FF Billy Wrenn, FF Jared Walberg, Dispatcher Scott Edwards
Communications Coordinator – Jackie Jenkins
Assistant Fire Marshall – Captain Richard Lauritson
Wildland Specialists – Kerry Kellogg and Maeve Juarez
Mechanic – Jess Moran