East Contra Costa Fire Protection District

Yesterday retired Captain Dan Baio came to visit and got to check out the new Pierce Quantum fire engines we have in service. It’s nice to see some of our mentors and let them know how they contributed to making the fire service better because of their work.

This morning Engineer Bill Scott changed out of his uniform for the last time as he officially retired from ECCFPD. Bill started with ECCFPD in 2002, working in every community in the East County. For the last many years he has worked at Station 53 in Oakley. Bill will be missed for his attention to detail, moral compass and his ability to cook and eat some of the hottest peppers you can find. Bill even got to drive himself home in his Engine 53 before saying goodbye. Congratulations on your retirement Bill!

Brentwood: A few days ago Engine 52 responded to a female who had an accident on her bicycle. She ended up being transported to the hospital via ambulance with some minor injuries and her family was left with trying to get her bicycle home. Firefighter Jared Gavard offered to help them. He rode her bike as E52 followed close behind. He may have even popped a wheelie.

Oakley: At 4:37am ECCFPD and ConFire units were called for a home on fire on Brock Lane near Main Street. Oakley Police arrived first and advised the home was fully involved and everyone was safely outside. Fire crews arrived and worked for over 5 hours to extinguish, overhaul and load up hose. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Red Cross was called to the scene to aid the displaced family. Photo credit to Eastcountytoday.net

ECCFPD Heritage: Here is a throwback to the Bethel Island Fire District Engine 95 participating in the Brentwood Christmas parade sometime in the mid 1980’s. This photo was taken from the corner of 2nd Street and Oak Street looking towards the City Park. Photo courtesy of Joe McMurtrey

Since last month multiple agencies including your ECCFPD firefighters have been working at COVID-19 vaccination sites around the county. These sites have been located in Hercules, San Ramon and here in Brentwood. Firefighters, paramedics and nurses are administering vaccines while law enforcement, Search and Rescue and CERT volunteers help coordinate traffic flow. At last count Contra Costa County now has 20% or 185,000 people fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The County Health Department has announced anyone 50 years and older can now receive a vaccine. Please follow this link to set up an appointment if you meet this criteria. https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-vaccinated

For those who couldn't be with us on Monday. We're doing it again Wednesday night! Join us for video #7 in our live series with Chief Brian Helmick. The topic of this video is a day in the life of an East Contra Costa firefighter. Join us for a presentation followed by a Q&A session with the Chief.

Join us for video #7 in our live series with Chief Brian Helmick. The topic of this video is a day in the life of an East Contra Costa firefighter. Join us for a presentation followed by a Q&A session with the Chief.

Marsh Creek Road: Yesterday at 1:38 p.m. E1666, E52, BC5 and AMR were called for a vehicle that rolled off the road near the intersection of Marsh Creek Road and Deer Valley Road. The two occupants self extricated out of the back window. The patients were assessed and one was transported to our local trauma center, the other patient refused care. CHP is investigating. Alcohol use is suspected in this accident.

Today our flags fly at half-staff to honor the 2,335 lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial which receives 1.8 million visitors a year was dedicated in 1962, has an interesting backstory, as one of the people responsible for helping to fund the Memorial was Elvis Presley. Elvis held a concert in Honolulu in 1961 that raised $64,000. This concert helped raise interest across the country and the remaining funds needed came pouring in over the rest of that year.

Great opportunity to see one of the toughest years for fires in California.

Today at 12:40 p.m.Engines 52, 59, BC5 and AMR responded to a head-on collision on Brentwood Blvd east of Sellers Ave. Four people were involved. An occupant of the car was in critical condition and required extrication using the Jaws of Life. Medical helicopters were unavailable due to weather conditions. Three people were transported by ground ambulance to JMWC while the fourth person declined care. Brentwood Blvd was shut down during the incident and investigation. CHP is investigating.

A #RedFlagWarning and #FireWeatherWatch are in effect for portions of Southern and Northern CA due to gusty winds and low humidity this weekend into early next week. This is critical fire weather. Exercise caution when outdoors.

Brentwood: Last night at 7:27 p.m. Engine 52 was called for an elderly male on Balfour Road who was having difficulty breathing. Dispatch advised that his friends had went to his house and were overwhelmed by a strong odor that caused coughing and their eyes to burn. They were unable to get the elderly male out of the home. E52 requested PG&E gas. On arrival E52’s crew put on SCBAs, went inside the home and carried the male outside to a waiting gurney where AMR assessed him. ...When PG&E arrived and went into the home their gas detector immediately went into alarm mode. Even by opening the windows and doors prior to PG&Es arrival we found carbon monoxide levels were nearly 100ppm. The PG&E representative found that the wall furnace was broken and venting into the home. Carbon Monoxide levels were estimated to have been much higher prior to our arrival. Luckily the elderly male had called his friends to report that he was not feeling good and they came to check on him, otherwise he may have just decided to go to bed and would have died in his sleep. The patient improved after going outside. This highlights the importance of having a working CO detector which was not present in this home. Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Rural Brentwood: Early this morning at 1:42 a.m. E52, E59, BC5 and AMR were called for a van that hit a power pole and rolled on to its roof on Brentwood Blvdeast of Sellers Avenue. The solo occupant sustained a head injury and was transported by ambulance to our local trauma center. CHP is investigating the cause.

Oakley: At 7:42 a.m. Engines 53, 52, 88(ConFire) and BC5 were called for a fire in a home on the 6100 block of Sellers Ave. on arrival E53 located a smal fire inside the front doorway. Crews quickly extinguished it and then worked to clear the home of smoke. The cause was undetermined at this point. The homeowner reported she was awoken by the smell of smoke and had to exit the home out the back. The smoke detector in the home did not alert her due to its old age. If your smoke detectors are over ten years old please replace them.

Join us for video #6 in our live series with Chief Brian Helmick. The topic of this video is achieving a viable, sustainable solution

This week ECCFPD firefighters along with firefighters and paramedics throughout the county are starting to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Here Battalion Chief Ross Macumber gets his first shot. He will return for his next one in a month.

Save the date! This will also be available on our YouTube channel and Periscope!

Mid-rise multi engine training evolution at the Holiday Inn in Brentwood.

This morning at 12:18 a.m. E52 and AMR were called for a vehicle accident on Balfour Road west of Minnesota Ave involving two cars. On arrival it was found that there were 5 patients involved, two with moderate injuries and three with minor injuries. Three additional ambulances were called to respond as well as an EMS supervisor. In all 4 people were transported. Thank you to our partners at AMR for being able to quickly respond and handle multiple patients in this incident. Brentwood PD is investigating.

Byron: 8:13PM Engine 359, 352 and BC5 responded to a fire involving multiple piles of used horse stable shavings. The high winds were causing embers to spread from pile to pile. Crews were able to knock down the visible fires and then turned the scene over to the property owner who will be using a trailer sprayer and bulldozer to control any flare ups.

If you are concerned about losing power during Sunday and Monday’s Red Flag/Wind event please check PG&E’s site below. Please share for those you may be concerned about. https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/addresslookup/

The Fire Weather Watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning beginning Sunday morning for higher elevations, and then includes lower valleys surrounding the B...ay Area by Sunday evening. Winds are expected to be the strongest of the 2020 fire season with critically dry conditions. While strongest winds are currently forecast for the Sunday night into Monday morning timeframe, this warning is currently set to expire Tuesday morning at 11 AM due to the dry conditions. See more

The National Weather Service is going to be issuing a Red Flag warning starting Sunday 10/25 until Monday 10/26. High winds are expected with very low (single digit humidity). Winds in our flatlands will be around 20mph, Vasco and Marsh Creek will be around 50mph, and Mt. Diablo will possibly be 100mph. The Weather Service thinks wind conditions may be comparable to what we experienced October of last year and in 2017 when we had the Wine Country fires. Secure the stuff that might blow away and don’t do anything that may cause a fire for the next few days.

Thanks to our crews for doing their part between the high number of emergency calls to keep our fire stations clean.

A few days ago E52 in Brentwood was called to a smoke detector sounding at the John Muir medical center. Although it proved to be a false alarm it allowed the engine company to meet with the facility engineer and to get training on elevator operations and proper keys to use to get into different areas of the facility.

Byron: Fatal accident. 6:25am Engines 59, 52, BC5, and AMR are at scene of a collision involving an overturned big rig and another vehicle on Byron Hwy and Holey Rd. Unfortunately one of the occupants has passed away. Please find an alternative route.

Rural Brentwood: At 6:45pm E52, E59, BC5, AMR and ConAir2 were called for a collision between a motorcycle and a car on Balfour Rd near Bixler Rd. On arrival we found that the motorcycle had hit the rear of the car at a high speed. The motorcycle rider was treated and transported by helicopter to our local trauma center. The driver of the car had minor injuries. CHP is investigating.

Oakley: At 7:29pm E53, E82, BC5, AMR and a medical helicopter were called for a two car accident at Main St/Cypress Rd with reports of a person ejected and vehicle on fire. On arrival no fire was found and one person out of the three involved needed to be transported. Oakley PD is investigating.

Congratulations to our East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board President Brian Oftedal and thank you for your dedication to our communities!!

Oakley: Today our Station 53 B-shift firefighters found this stray boy running around their station. He was a sweetheart and very docile. The guys called animal control who came out and found out that luckily he had an ID chip. The animal control officer took him home.

Earlier today E59 and E52 met up to do ground ladder training in downtown Brentwood.

Brentwood: 10:22am E52, E59 and BC5 were called for a possible hazmat/fire at the Brentwood Waste Transfer Station on Elkins Way. Units arrived and found the fire out. Staff reported the fire starting in pile of garbage inside the transfer building, they moved it outside and the fire flared up. They used water hoses to extinguish the fire.