September 2020 Fire District Newsletter

City of American Canyon, California sent this bulletin at 10/08/2020 05:37 PM PDT

September 2020

Chief's Message

Throughout California, the Fire Service is once again actively involved in responding to wildland fires and protecting lives and property across our drought-stricken State. Unfortunately, Napa County residents have once again been devastated by another set of catastrophic fires. As I write this message, 2000+ fire personnel are still assigned to the Glass Fire stretching across portions of Napa, Sonoma, and Lake Counties. Containment currently is at 65%. The total number of destroyed/damaged structures is climbing significantly as Damage Assessment Teams work their way into the fire area's hardest-hit areas.

American Canyon Fire Protection District continues to support the Statewide Fire Mutual Aid responses throughout Northern California. While we provide mutual aid outside of American Canyon, we continue to maintain our full staffing of two 3-person Advanced Life Support (ALS) Engine companies within the Fire District. These crews are now stationed separately at Station 11 on Donaldson Way East and Station 211 at 225 James Road.

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us so far! The COVID-19 Pandemic, along with the wildland fires surrounding us all, has stretched our personnel and District resources beyond anything we could have ever anticipated. In spite of all of this, the District Board of Directors and our firefighters "stand ready" to protect the entire American Canyon community and its businesses and residents.

Thank you for your continued support!

Mike Cahill

To ensure that our fire personnel reduce the threat of COVID-19 exposure within the Fire District, on-duty personnel have been segregated.

Click here for the Monthly Statistical Report for September 2020

Welcome Interim Assistant Fire Chief Comisky
Chief Comisky has more than forty years of experience in the fire service. He has served as Fire Battalion Chief in Sonoma Valley Rescue Authority, San Mateo/Foster City Fire Department, and Corte Madera Fire Department. He currently serves as President for the Fire Districts Association of California (FDAC) and the Board of Directors for South Lake County Fire Protection District). Chief Comisky is responsible for Fire Operations for the District. The Fire District welcomes Interim Assistant Fire Chief James Comisky!

Interim Assistant Fire Chief James Comisky

North Complex
On Wednesday, September 9, 2020, the District responded to the North Complex Fire located in Butte and Plumas Counties with Engine 411 (three personnel), one Strike Team Leader (Fire Captain), and one Geographic Information Specialist (GIS). The fires were started by lightning on August 17, 2020, and burned 318,928 acres. The engine crews and Strike Team Leader returned safely back to American Canyon on September 24, and the Geographic Information Specialist returned on September 28.

North Complex Fire in Butte and Plumas Counties

Congratulations Firefighter Andrew O’Shaughnessy!
Firefighter Andrew O’Shaugnessy completed the Fire District’s rigorous eighteen-month probationary period. On September 27th, he received his helmet shield presented by Interim Assistant Fire Chief James Comisky. Congratulations, Firefighter O’Shaugnessy!

Chief Comisky presenting Firefighter O’Shaugnessy with the American Canyon Firefighter Shield

Training
Fire District personnel Captain Diede and Firefighter Abalos recently completed the annual Water Rescue training on the Napa River. Training consisted of various skills, including defensive swimming, accessing and treating victims in the water, and other specialized skill sets related to water rescues.

Photo of Captain Diede and Firefighter Abalos performing water rescue training

Probationary Training
Probationary Firefighters continue to train this month as they prepare for their Module 3 Test, which will take place in October. The Module 3 Test includes fire attack, apparatus driving, and ground ladder evolutions.