| | Published October 9th, 2013
| Lamorinda Fire News Briefs
| | By Nick Marnell | | |
Supervisor Candace Andersen appointed Erling Horn to fill a vacant seat on the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District's Advisory Fire Commission. Horn will be the District 2 alternate to commissioner Bill Granados.
"He's a knowledgeable guy, and he's been around," said Granados. Horn's public service resume includes membership on the Lafayette City Council, and for the past five years he has been Lafayette's representative on the County Connection board of directors, where he worked with Andersen. "I was delighted when he accepted my request to serve," she said.
The commission consists of seven members and five alternates. It reviews and mentors ConFire operations and advises the Board of Supervisors as needed.
One of the reasons the previous alternate resigned was because he was not permitted to sit at the main table at the board meetings, said Granados. Horn, who helped write fire standards for the National Fire Protection Agency, voiced no such trepidation.
"I've been an alternate before, and I know the rules," he said. "I'll try to contribute what I've learned from my fire experience."
His first opportunity to do so will be at the Oct. 14 Advisory Fire Commission board meeting.
"Safe Places" at ConFire Stations
The county Board of Supervisors extended an agreement between the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the Northern California Family Center, designating each fire station as a "Safe Place" where homeless, in-crisis and runaway youth can turn for help. The district has supported the NCFC Crisis/Runaway Program since 2004.
"The fire district clearly provides the most public presence that we have," said Tom Fulton, NCFC executive director. Each fire station displays a yellow and black diamond-shaped sign with the words "Safe Place" clearly visible.
Out of the 60 young people the center engages each year, between three and five use a ConFire station as the first point of contact, said Fulton.
Supervisor Candace Andersen strongly supported the joint effort. "It's through partnerships with non-profit groups such as the Northern California Family Center, working together to designate our fire stations as "Safe Places," that we are able to change lives for the better and protect one of our most vulnerable populations - our youth."
Lafayette Emergency Services Task Force
Council member Traci Reilly, co-chair of the Lafayette Emergency Services Task Force, summed up the entity's plight at the start of its Oct. 1 meeting.
"We're going to need professional help," she said.
The task force was created in June to investigate alternative delivery of fire and emergency medical service to Lafayette residents, who were displeased with the performance of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District; specifically, the closure in 2012 of fire station 16 in northeast Lafayette.
Whether the city decides to contract for its fire and emergency service, join with another district, or form its own department, it first must detach from ConFire. The detachment - which must be approved by the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission - and its subtleties dominated the evening's discussion.
... continued on page A12
|
|
| | | | | | |
| | | print story
Before you print this article, please remember that it will remain in our archive for you to visit anytime.
download pdf
(use the pdf document for best printing results!) | | | Comments | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA