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Get to Know us!!
Assistant Fire Chief James Johnson
Hello, my name is James Johnson, and have been honored to work with the City of Mesa and Mesa Fire and Medical Department since September of 1994. Over the last 28 years, I have moved through the ranks of Firefighter, Engineer, Paramedic, Captain, Deputy Chief, and into my current position as Assistant Chief. My current responsibilities include Emergency Management, Fire Maintenance, and Fire Personnel. I still clearly recall the initial phone call I received from Chief Carl Geis offering me a firefighter position with our department…what an awesome day!!
I was born in Phoenix but lived in Mesa in the area around Horne and Broadway attending Lowell Elementary School. At the age of 8, my family moved to Tempe, and I have lived in the same neighborhood ever since. I am surrounded by my loving wife of 26 years, and I have three beautiful children, my oldest daughter Halle, and our boy/girl twins, Ryan, and Riley. We all enjoy playing and watching sports, camping, coaching, and simply being together.
Outside of work I enjoy working out, riding bikes, and pretty much anything that involves friends and family. I coach volleyball at various levels and dab here and there with baseball. Working with the youth is a lot of fun and always finds a way to keep me happy.
Working for the City of Mesa Fire and Medical Department has truly been a blessing. Being able to work with amazing people and serve the community has clearly exceeded my expectations of being a firefighter. I have always appreciated the joys, laughter, hard work, and even tears that come along with this career.
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What is the 100 Club?
The 100 Club of Arizona was established in 1968, after a Phoenix officer was killed in the line of duty. Their mission is to ensure assistance by providing immediate financial relief to all public safety members throughout the state of Arizona. The 100 Club of Arizona and its members realize that money can never make up for the loss of or disability of a loved one, but it can be helpful in covering immediate expenses. In addition, the 100 Club of Arizona has a committee of experts, including members of the fallen officer’s agency, CPAs, attorneys, trust officers, brokers, financial consultants, insurance consultants, and employee benefits consultants to support families. This team, at the survivor’s request, will advise and counsel families in a wide range of areas without cost or obligation. As well as offering financial assistance, they provide scholarships to immediate family members wanting to pursue further education. Today, the 100 Club of Arizona supports all police, correctional, probation and parole officers, firefighters, and federal agents who are serving and protecting the citizens of Arizona. This includes all county, tribal, state, and federal levels.
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Supporting Our Heroes to Benefit The 100 Club
January 28, 2023 12-4pm
Riverview Park- 2100 W Rio Salado Pkwy
Cannon & Wendt Electric Co., Inc is hosting their 4th annual event at Riverview Park to honor Arizona’s first responders. This free public event will provide the community the opportunity to see fire trucks, police vehicles, ambulances, K9 demonstrations, and learn at numerous safety booths. This will be a family event, so everyone is welcome to attend. There will be no admission fees for entrance, but there will be a “fill the boot” to offer donations that will all go directly to the 100 Club charity. There will also be food trucks, entertainment, and fun for the kids. We hope to see you there!
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Firewise in MESA
The Firewise USA program is a nationwide effort to help communities protect their homes, families, and neighborhoods from the threat of wildland fire. The program is based on the idea that people can take simple steps to reduce the risk of wildfire, and make their homes and communities more resistant to wildfire damage.
One of the key components of the Firewise USA program is the use of Firewise principles, which are based on the latest research and best practices for reducing wildfire risk. These principles include: clearing leaves and other debris from roofs and gutters, removing dead branches and other flammable vegetation from around homes, and creating a "defensible space" around homes by trimming low-hanging branches and keeping grass and other vegetation well-watered and trimmed.
Please see the photos below as an example of what a desert area looks like before removing excess flammable vegetation and an after photo creating defensible space to reduce the amount of material that will burn.
  Another important aspect of the Firewise USA program is community involvement. Firewise communities work together to develop and implement wildfire risk reduction strategies, and often involve local fire departments, state and federal agencies, and other organizations in their efforts. By working together, communities can create a culture of wildfire safety that helps to reduce the risk of wildfire and protect lives and property.
Here in the City of Mesa, we are working with communities by assisting them in getting the Firewise program started. Our program was designed to teach HOA’s how to navigate through the process of creating their Firewise plan. HOA’s are responsible for electing a Firewise board, contracting a Firewise certified landscape company, developing their fuel reduction plan, tracking the tonnage of waste removed, tracking the number of volunteer hours from the community members, having community members become “Home Assessors” to perform assessments within the community to reduce the ignitable points around homes and submit all required documents to the NFPA for certification to become a Firewise USA® community.
If you're interested in learning more about the Firewise USA program, visit the Firewise website at www.firewise.org. There, you can find a wealth of information about wildfire prevention and risk reduction, as well as resources for homeowners and community leaders or contact Tyson Matheny in Fire Prevention. So, let's be a part of this program and make our community Firewise.
Tyson Matheny
Fire Inspector/Investigator
Firewise Coordinator
(480) 682-8692
Tyson.Matheny@MesaAz.Gov
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Hot Off the Press...
The Incredible AARF Trucks of MFMD!!!
AARF= Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting
Mesa Fire stations position all trucks facing the city streets ready to respond to fire and medical calls at a moment’s notice. All trucks but three. These Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles, located at our two airports, point towards the rear of their stations for quick response on the airfield. Trained members of the Mesa Fire and Medical department maintain these vehicles so they can operate on any surface, with any agent, from optimal controls integrated into a command cab. These ARFF staffed units have versatile capabilities that suit the complexities of the airports they serve.
These vehicles can’t hide their striking features that set their appearance apart from the department’s other responding units. Any kindergartener would accurately describe an ARFF apparatus as a monster truck, the tires stand taller than they do. The station bay door openings abide two feet wider than the engine or ladder bays to release these vehicles. It backs up its all-terrain look with all-wheel drive independent suspension to maximize the firefighting arena with a controlled ride on any surface. Tire pressure can be decreased from the interior to increase traction and create greater maneuverability in sandy retention basins, muddy golf courses, or brushy orchards. Should aircraft debris puncture the durable tread pattern, the Tyre Watch senses the loss of air and auto-inflates from compressed air generated on board. Even though the truck bares a low center of gravity, the dash emits alarms to warn of lateral acceleration that could result in a rollover while treading offroad.
The onlooking public, as well as seasoned firefighters, justifiably gasp at the capacities of these vehicles. A rookie giving a school program might share how a standard responding fire engine can pump 1500 gallons of water in a minute, but it only carries 500 gallons. Mesa’s smallest ARFF truck at Falcon Field Airport carries 3 times that with 1500 gallons. Mesa-Gateway Airport has two trucks, one of which carries 3000 gallons. An Engineer on a standard Engine works with 30 gallons of foam to make water wetter, change its surface tension, and suppress fuel vapors. An ARFF Engineer has 210 gallons of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) on board. Mesa-Gateway operates another apparatus that holds twice that volume with 420 gallons of AFFF. If a sustained liquid fire occurs, these trucks reliably shoot over 450 pounds of a dry chemical powder, called Purple K, that interrupts the burning process. Most trucks must stop, park, and re-engage the transmission to pump water on a fire. These units just pump and roll at the same time, hitting multiple hot spots, and then repositioning to create evacuation routes for passengers. With these high capacities, you can see why these trucks weigh almost twice as much as a fire engine at 62,000 pounds.
Two trained MFMD ARFF members continuously staff and operate the Foam truck during a 24-hour shift. Many car design engineers struggle to create a vehicle centered around the driver. An ARFF unit solves this problem by literally putting the engineer directly in the center of the vehicle. The bumper turret points in front of the driver and the roof turret projects directly above with 100 ft reach. With the oversized windshield, full glass sunroof, and floor to ceiling windows, a driver could know what Nemo would experience if he mobilized his own aquarium. The dash displays a rear camera monitor to add to the 360° visibility experience. The ergonomic controls for these turrets stand logically placed to the right of the steering wheel. They resemble the joysticks to your favorite helicopter arcade game at the mall, with an index finger trigger and color-coded thumb keyboard to select stream pattern and desired agent. A third functional joystick controls a thermal camera and projects a black and white image on a screen in front of the Captain. She, or he, sits to the right of these controls, turned to two radios and a loudspeaker microphone. One radio communicates with the tower in the right can of the audio headset, while the other communicates with fire trucks in the left. Should the Engineer or Captain need to exit to fight fire, three seats hold an SCBA air pack. Both sides of the truck store 100 ft hose reels plumbed with water, foam, and Purple-K. Saws, axes, and other tools all lie within reach in adjoining compartments.
These reliable trucks make a difference at the unique airports they serve. Falcon Field has a storied history of training pilots since World War II. The airport continues these traditions by hosting flight schools and housing the same historical planes flown during the war. The take offs and landings of these students make Falcon Field one of the busiest General Aviation Airports in the nation. Mesa-Gateway operates as an Index-C airport with scheduled large passenger airliners and even more frequent freight delivery flights. Incoming pilots know they can call with any concerns prior to landing and trust these responding units waiting near the runway to help. Recently, an incoming warbird realized it was missing an entire wheel and an ARFF apparatus crew accurately estimated its sliding distance, communicated with the exiting pilots, provided an exit zone, and covered leaking fuel with a foam blanket. Students, passengers, flight enthusiasts, and the aviation industry frequent our safe airports because of their confidence in our rapid response in these dependable ARFF apparatus.
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Volunteer as a Safety Volunteer!
Do you have the talent and time to volunteer to help our senior neighbors stay safe? The Mesa Fire and Medical Department is looking for safety volunteers to assist residents who have issues with falling. The volunteers will need to have some basic experience in working with tools (drills, screwdrivers, stud finders) and would work with a fellow volunteer to install grab bars and smoke alarms in resident’s homes. Volunteers must be 18 years or older, pass necessary background and driving clearances, and be willing to volunteer a 4-hour shift between Monday and Thursday each week. All clearances, training, and uniform are provided at no cost. Contact Brent Strickland at 480 644-3388 or email Brenton.strickland@mesaaz.gov.
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How to stay SAFE and warm with a Space Heater
Stay safe while you are staying warm this winter while using a space heater. Heating is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries and the third leading cause of deaths in home fires. While space heaters are a main cause of these statistics, following some simple guidelines will keep you safe while they keep you warm.
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Keep it at least 3 feet away from anything flammable. This includes drapes, bedding, clothing, papers, and furniture
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Keep it on a flat stable surface. Do not place it on a table, chair, or bench or prop it up with anything.
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Plug it directly into an outlet. Do not use an extension cord which may not be rated for the power needed by the heater. Ensure cord and plug are in good repair.
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Make sure to have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Check them monthly and replace every 10 years.
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Do not leave it unattended. Don't leave it on when you're away. When sleeping use extra blankets and turn it off.
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Make sure your space heater is safety certified. There should be a safety logo on the back. This ensures that it will shut off in any dangerous situations.
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🔥🔥Burning Questions🔥🔥
What type of records can I request from Mesa Fire and Medical?
1. Basic Fire Report- public record (anyone can request) no fee
2. Fire Investigation Report- public record (anyone can request) no fee
a. One stipulation- if the fire in considered Incendiary (arson) the report is not releasable.
3. Fire investigation photos- public record (anyone can request)- $5.00 fee
a. Same stipulation as above
4. Audio/911 recordings- public record but protected health information may be redacted- $5.00 fee
5. Electronic patient care report (ePCR)- no fee
a. Only the patient can request their report with the exception of:
1. Legal guardian of a minor
2. Medical power of attorney
3. Death certificate
How can I request a record?
Fax a request- (480) 644-3609
Email to Shari Cobb shari.cobb@mesaaz.gog
Public Records Requests | City of Mesa (mesaaz.gov)
Scroll down to the MFMD fire logo and click the logo. This will take you to GOVQA
Mail a written request to:
Mesa Fire and Medical Department
PO Box 1466 MS6060
Mesa AZ 85211
How Can I Learn More About the Mesa Fire and Medical Department?
Email any questions or comments to MFMDFireEd@MesaAZ.gov
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Make an appointment for a car seat check
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Learn CPR in English or Espanol
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