August 2020 Fire District Newsletter

August 2020

Congratulations on Your Retirement, Fire Chief Weeks!

On August 13, 2020, Fire Chief Glen E. Weeks retired from the American Canyon Fire Protection District. Chief Weeks was hired on December 5, 2005, as the Assistant Fire Chief, and on July 21, 2007, he was promoted to Fire Chief.

Chief Weeks served as a firefighter with the United States Air Force and with California local government for 34 years. The citizens of American Canyon are grateful for his service these past 15 years. Chief Weeks served alongside Police Chiefs Brian Banducci, Jean Donaldson, Tracey Stuart, and Oscar Ortiz as well as City Managers Rich Ramirez, Dana Shigley, and Jason Holley.

Under Chief Weeks’ leadership, the level of public safety provided to our citizens and visitors was continuously improved. During his tenure, the following was accomplished:

1. The completion and opening of a new state of the art Public Safety Facility
2. Upgraded the District from a Basic Life Support (BLS) provider to an Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider
3. Upgraded technology such as mobile data computers on apparatus with auto vehicle locators and computer-aided dispatch interface to the records management system (CAD to RMS interface)
4. Replaced the majority of a fleet of aging fire apparatus with modern and safer fire apparatus
5. Upgraded the District’s ISO rating from Class 3 to Class 2
6. Established the American Canyon Emergency Response Team (ACCERT)
7. Procured a one-acre parcel for a future new fire station, administrative headquarters, and Emergency Operations Center
8. A First Responder Fee Ordinance was adopted
9. A partnership was developed with AMR and a JPA with the City of Napa

Please help us in thanking Fire Chief Glen E. Weeks for his many years of dedicated service to our community!

Fire Chief Glen E. Weeks (Retired)

Click here for the Monthly Statistical Report for August 2020

Welcome Interim Fire Chief Cahill
With the retirement of Chief Weeks, the Fire District has hired interim Fire Chief Michal P. Cahill. He has over thirty years of experience in the California Fire Service, and twenty years of this experience has been in Management and Administration in Municipal, County, and State agencies. He served as Fire Chief for Sonoma County, City of Sonoma, Sonoma Valley Fire-Rescue, the City of Woodland Fire Department, and Windsor Fire. The Fire District welcomes Interim Fire Chief Michael P. Cahill.

LNU Complex Fire
On Wednesday, August 19, 2020, District Water Tender 11 and Engine 411 responded to the LNU Complex Fire. On August 17, a cluster of wildfires started in Northern California due to numerous lightning strikes near Lake Hennessey, a reservoir in the Vaca Mountains just east of Silverado Trail. Simultaneously, lightning struck at Lake Berryessa's western edge and burned 375,209 acres in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo, and Solano Counties.

Engine 411 responded to the LNU Complex Fire. They returned safely to quarters on Thursday, September 3rd

Water Tender 11 was deployed to the LNU Complex Fire from August 19 through September 1st

Residential Fire Sprinklers Saves Family of Eight
On Wednesday, August 26, at 2:05 am, the American Canyon Fire Protection District was dispatched to a residential structure fire report in the 800 block of Spring Mountain Road. Engine 11 and Engine 311 arrived in heavy black smoke from the residence and reports of a trapped resident. After a complete search by ACFPD personnel and assisting agencies, all residents were accounted for.

Mutual aid was provided by Vallejo Fire Department, Napa County Fire Department, and Napa City Fire Department. Eight victims were transported to multiple area hospitals for minor smoke inhalation. A residential fire sprinkler system was instrumental in providing early suppression before our arrival and egress for the eight residents. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Captain Churchman performing the fire investigation

Training
On August 4th, the District attended the Napa Interagency HazMat Incident Team (NIHIT) training. This required training helps keep the HazMat team proficient in Hazardous Materials response within Napa County and surrounding jurisdictions.