Santa Paula Fire: Reserves highly qualified but scarce

November 10, 2006
Santa Paula News

Reserves are an important component of the Santa Paula Fire Department, but there’s only one problem: there are not enough of them, according to a department officials.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesReserves are an important component of the Santa Paula Fire Department, but there’s only one problem: there are not enough of them, according to a department officials.“They come from all over, as far away as Carpinteria,” said SPFD Cpt. Dustin Lazenby during a recent training exercise at Station 81 on West Main Street that had about nine SPFD Reserves being put their paces.“We get them from all over Southern California,” after the Reserves graduate from the Fire Academy.“We’re getting such a high quality of people that it’s amazing to me,” and Reserves are becoming full-time Santa Paula Firefighters as others’ leave for better paying jobs, said Chief Rick Araiza.Cpt. Lazenby, a fourth general SPFD Firefighter, said that at one time the city - which provides a modest monthly stipend for Reserves - had about 50, a number that has now dwindled to about 24.
About 11 Reserves have been hired but “We lose one or two a month that get full-time firefighting jobs,” or can’t balance their regular jobs with the requirements to be a working Reserve, said Cpt. Lazenby.At Fire Station 82 Reserves were laying hose, placing ladders and learning the intricacies of teamwork required by firefighting under the watchful eyes of Cpt. Jerry Byrum and Firefighter Tim Harris.“Firefighting is based on teamwork,” noted Cpt. Lazenby.The ultimate goal for firefighters is to “share the same brain” in stressful emergencies so hesitancy is not a factor in the response including carrying the long ladders that must be carefully maneuvered before placement.The training wasn’t all hard work in heavy turnouts that made the wearers’ sweat in the already warm day: At noon a barbecue was staged to thank the Reserves for their efforts served up by Mayor Rick Cook and Chief Araiza.



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