Anaheim Fire And Rescue

Anaheim Fire sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Captain Chris Mertz and the @rsf_fire. May he rest in peace. #Repost @rsf_fire . . .... With heavy hearts we inform you of the Line of Duty Death of Captain W. Chris Mertz.

*Red Flag Warning* A red flag warning has been issued for Orange County inland and mountain zones effective today, Monday, January 18th 10:00PM through Tuesday, January 19th 10:00PM. Fire watch volunteers have been activated for patrols and fixed posts in the affected areas. This is routine and out of an abundance of caution.

Anaheim Fire & Rescue offer our condolences to Lieutenant John Reynolds family and to the Garden Grove Police Department. #Repost @gardengrovepd with @make_repost It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Lt. John Reynolds from COVID-19 complications.... He was 59-years-old, and passed away early this morning in the hospital, after valiantly fighting the virus since the end of November. Lt. Reynolds has been employed with #GardenGrovePD for over 25 years. Prior to joining the our department, he was a probation officer with the Orange County Probation Department for nine years. John was a dedicated public servant who loved his career and loved serving his community. John’s passing leaves a huge void in our hearts and our lives. He is survived by his wife Jena, two adult daughters, and his 18-month old son. Please keep John Reynolds and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Please see the link on our profile for the full press release. #GGPD32 #RIP #GoneButNeverForgotten @gardengrovepa @gardengrovecityhall @ggpdexplorers @ggpdk9unit

Happy Holidays from Anaheim Fire & Rescue!

A special shout out to your Anaheim Firefighters... #Repost @city_of_anaheim with @make_repost This #covid_19 vaccination is one of nearly 25,000 and counting that have been given in Anaheim. ... We started nearly two weeks ago at a fire training site and now are at Orange County’s first super site at the Toy Story Parking Area @disneyland. We did nearly 5,000 shots on Sunday, a new high for the super site. A big shoutout to @anaheimfireandrescue firefighter/paramedics, who have worked tirelessly for days now. With each shot we give, we take another step toward toward recovery, and it is so gratifying to see so many getting vaccinated. Availability of vaccines is limited for now but will expand in coming weeks. See more at Anaheim.net/vaccines. Keep fighting COVID-19 in all you do. #covidvacccine #coronavirus #thisisanaheim

Your Anaheim firefighters and firefighters from surrounding cities assisted the Orange County Health Care Agency and the City of Anaheim in setting up a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Disneyland. AF&R paramedics are administrating COVID-19 vaccines to those who fall under Phase 1A. AF&R and other OC fire agencies vaccinated nearly 2,000 people at North Net and assisted with the transition to the mass site.

A red flag warning is in effect for for Orange County today, December 23, 2020, 8:00AM through December 24, 2020, 12:00PM. Fire Watch Volunteers have been activated for patrols. This is routine and out of an abundance of caution. As always, we encourage you to stay vigilant and prepared.... #anaheimfireandrescue #anaheim #redflagwarning #anaheimfirewatchvolunteers

It's that time of year! Join Anaheim Fire & Rescue in celebrating the 28th Spark of Love Toy Drive Campaign, without the support and generosity of our community and local business, this program would not be able to distribute toys to children and teens throughout the City of Anaheim. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we are offering two ways to participate in our toy drive. Our 11 fire stations in Anaheim can accommodate a no-contact drop off of new, unwrapped toys, and sport equipment between now and December 24th. OR you can donate toys from our gift registry. The registry allows for a safe and convenient way to give back to the Anaheim community. https://www.anaheim.net/5779/Spark-of-Love-Campaign

We would like to congratulate Gary Gionet on his retirement from his position as Metro Net Fire JPA Manager. Gary was hired by Anaheim Fire & Rescue in August 1994. Prior to coming to Anaheim, he worked for Garden Grove Police Department in Dispatch and as a Reserve Police Officer. Gary received a degree from Golden West College in Administration of Justice. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his granddaughters and enjoys photography. His advice to someone in...terested in this job is, If you can commit to the time away from family and working long hours, dispatching is a great job with life-long rewards. Visit some dispatch centers to make sure this is the job for you. Gary shares that his favorite part of his job is, Making a difference in someone’s life and you will many times if you are in the dispatch profession for a period of time. See more

After 33 years of service, Captain Jerry George retires from Anaheim Fire & Rescue. Jerry is the last to retire from his class of 1988. As many have said before me, it is an adventure with many sacrifices, but my opinion so worth it. The banter at the kitchen table was priceless with many laughs and tears (laughing too hard). I know that will continue and that’s a good thing. I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity, as a 21 year old kid, to say I was an ANAHEIM F...irefighter. . I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone that I have worked with and I have had great crews throughout the years. It has been an honor and privilege to server with each and every one of you. Take care of each other, do a great job, and stay safe I will miss all of you and I will miss firefighting. 33 years goes by fasttake in all the experiences because before you know, it’s over. We wish Jerry all the best in retirement. You will be missed.

Thank you @cleanoutkingsplumbing for hosting a toy drive to help support the AF&R’s Spark of Love campaign. Thank you for your generosity and for gifting some holiday cheer.

With the new stay at home order, AF&R is partnering up with @anaheimlibrary for this year’s winter reading program and the theme is Fire Safety! If you have a little one at home or love learning about our Anaheim Firefighters check out @anaheimlibrary for more details.

Meet Captain Paramedic Rob Stuart Anaheim Fire & Rescue hired Rob in May 1992. Rob earned his paramedic certification 20 years ago from Saddleback College under Howard Adams. Prior to working for AF&R, he was a Volunteer & Reserved Firefighter for both AF&R and Santa Ana Fire Department (now OCFA). Rob has been part of our Apparatus Committee for 8 years. He has written specifications, designed, built, and outfitted nearly our entire fleet of fire vehicles in that time. On ...calls, he also serves as a Spanish translator when needed. In 2019, Rob was recognized with the Heroes with Heart Award by the Trauma Intervention Program of Orange County. This award is given to personnel who went above the call of duty throughout the year to provide compassionate support to citizens in crisis. For anyone interested in the fire service he offers the following advice, The Fire Service is an amazing career that requires a great deal of dedication and commitment to serving others before ourselves. Expect to spend 75% of your time working. We do our best to make work fun but above all else when it’s time to work, WE WORK. Although his work schedule does not currently allow him to have a pet, he hopes to find his best buddy after he retires. In his spare time, Rob enjoys the beach, riding his motorcycle, and snowboarding. See more

After 36 years with Anaheim Fire & Rescue, Captain John Strickland retires. Captain Strickland was a great mentor and leader in our organization. He will be missed. We wish him a happy retirement and all the best in the next chapter of his life.

Today we thank all the Veterans who served in the armed forces. We thank our AF&R Veterans for their commitment and sacrifice. Not pictured: Stuart Tyson & David Rodriguez.

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." Join us for the classic tale of The Night Before Ch...ristmas in a magical pop-up edition of "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore and Robert Sabuda, with permission from Simon & Schuster. Stay until the end for a visit from a special guest and don't forget to sign-up for the winter reading program at http://anaheim.readsquared.com/

Tonight, Huntington Beach Fire Department units responded to a minor chlorine leak at the City Gym and Pool. Due to the nature of the call - Hazmat units responded and working together, HBFD and AF&R Hazmat Teams were able to safely mitigate the leak. One patient, out of an abundance of precaution was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

After 17 years of serving the Anaheim residents, businesses, and visitors, Firefighter Greg Shiner retires after joining Anaheim Fire & Rescue in 2003. May you be proud of the work you have done, the person you are, and the difference you have made. - Abigail Johnson We wish Firefighter Shiner health, happiness, and many more adventures.

After 24 years of dedicated service to Anaheim Fire & Rescue, Captain Cheatham’s last shift is the same day he began his career 24 years ago, November 8, 1996. Cheatham served in the Army for two years and served on the Anaheim Firefighters Association (AFA) Board from 2014-2019, and held the position of President from 2013-2018. Furthermore, Cheatham served 20 years in US&R, California Task Force 5. Captain Cheatham's advice to anyone interested in becoming a firefighter, "...Believe in yourself and never quit! And once you're hired, stand by your convictions, but be willing to change when presented with truthful evidence...you'll sleep better at night!" Cheatham's most memorable call is watching a colleague perform a leg amputation out in the field to save a man's life...and he did! In his personal time, he enjoys spending time with his late son's dogs, family, and friends creating memories. We wish Captain Cheatham and his family good health, happiness, and many more adventures.

Did you know the Walnut Reservoir in Anaheim serves as a vital resource for regional firefighting helicopters? This valuable water source not only serves Anaheim during a wildfire but is currently being used to help fight the Blue Ridge and Silverado Fires. Fire helicopters can be fitted with tanks that can be filled with water, via a hanging snorkel or by a Bambi Bucket slung underneath. Helicopters from federal, state and local agencies come in different types, each varying in water capacity from 72 gallons to 3000 gallons.

Your Anaheim Firefighters are on the cover of Firehouse Magazine this month! Thank you @564fire for capturing this photo and to every other fire agency that assisted in the Apple Fire.

Our thoughts and prayers are with @losangelesfiredepartment and the family of Firefighter/Paramedic Francisco Frank Aguilar. #Repost @losangelesfiredepartment LOS ANGELES Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Ralph Terrazas released the following statement regarding Firefighter/Paramedic Francisco Frank Aguilar.... Our Department was notified this afternoon that authorities in Mexico determined that human remains recently found there are those of LAFD Firefighter/Paramedic Francisco Aguilar. This is a tragic outcome to a case we were hoping would end differently. On behalf of the men and women of the LAFD, we send our deepest condolences to Firefighter Aguilar's family and we stand ready to assist them in the days to come.

Meet Captain Paramedic Justin Balint Anaheim Fire & Rescue hired Captain Balint in November of 1996. He previously worked for El Cajon Fire Department. Balint received his AS in Fire Science and an AA in Liberal Arts from Rancho Santiago College. Furthermore, he received his Paramedic License from Freeman Paramedic School in 1995. In his spare time he likes to travel with his family to several iconic destinations such as Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Kauai & Nicaragua as t...hey all surf, snowboard, and ski. Balint is an avid surfer and snowboarder and has coordinated the Anaheim Firemen’s Surf Club since 2000. In addition, he likes to focus on fire prevention measures with the students at his daughter’s school, he has performed several fire safety presentations on when it’s appropriate to call 911, encourage their parents to ensure smoke detectors are in their homes, and what a firefighter in full gear looks like so they are not afraid. Captain Balint shares his most memorable call, it was a motorcyclist who crashed on Euclid and Ball striking a fire hydrant. He landed on his back and was instantly paralyzed, but conscious. The fire hydrant was flooding the street and the man almost drowned on Euclid before we got to him. He was almost completely submerged. We treated him and took him to a trauma center and 6 months later he came by the station to visit us and to say thank you.

Daylight savings time is almost over. Don’t forget to turn back your clocks 1 hour. As you do so, test your smoke alarm and change the batteries. Remember, a working smoke alarm can give you and your loved ones extra time to exit in an emergency.

Whether you trick or treat this Halloween, we want to share with you some Halloween safety tips for you and your family! Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Here are some Halloween safety tips!

After 28 years of dedicated service to Anaheim residents, businesses, and visitors, Fire Marshal Allen Hogue has retired. He began his journey with Anaheim Fire & Rescue as a Reserve. After owning his own construction company, he was looking for a career that would allow him to spend more time with his family. Someone told him about Anaheim Fire & Rescue and one day he walked in to the HR Department, filled out his application, and got the job. He moved up through the Fire Se...rvice until reaching the position of Fire Marshal. Hogue leaves an innovative path behind from initiating the goat mitigation program, new construction, and working alongside Disneyland. In his personal time, he enjoys fishing, sailing, bike riding, swimming, camping, and most of all spending time with his family. In his retirement, Hogue looks forward to spending time with his grandchildren. The long road has been filled with a lot of ups and downs, as it is in real life. Thankfully, there were many more positive experiences and I thank you all for that! I never thought as a Reserve that I would become the Fire Marshal of this great department and it has been an honor to be a piece of the big machine that keeps this great department reaching new heights every year. So in closing I would like to say THANK YOU, because it’s been one amazing party. He took many under his wing; he was a leader, and a mentor. We wish Allen good health, happiness, and many more adventures. Allen, we thank you for all the memories and leadership.

Today is National First Responders Day! We’d like to thank all firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, EMT’s, police officers, and to all those that serve and protect our communities.