Nine years ago I was appointed chief of the City of Carlsbad Fire Department, an honor I cherish to this day.
As chief, I direct a staff of 90 of the finest firefighters and support personnel that can be found anywhere, as well as 100 dedicated volunteers. The department has an annual budget of $16.2 million.
But more importantly, my staff and I are responsible for ensuring the safety of more than 100,000 Carlsbad residents and the hundreds of businesses that thrive here.
This column marks the first of a series that will address safety issues that you face daily in your homes and businesses. I hope through this feature to advise you on how you can stay safe and make your business safer.
The Carlsbad Fire Department is responsible for helping the business community understand risks you face every day and telling you how to minimize or eliminate those risks. We play a big role in keeping your doors open and place a high priority on advising you how to stay as safe as possible.
We take a collaborative approach in helping you understand and abide by fire regulations, and we invite you to consult us regarding safety concerns at your business. We have a mutual interest in finding an option that works best to keep your business hazard free.
For those of you who haven't met me, I'd like to introduce myself. I began my career as a firefighter/paramedic in Poway in 1983 and transferred to Carlsbad three years later, where I've remained since.
I have been Carlsbad fire chief since 2002 and have been part of several national and local incidents, including the Harmony Grove Fire that struck Carlsbad in 1995, and the San Diego County wildfires of 2003 and 2007.
It's important to apply lessons learned through such experiences to our local community, and members of the Carlsbad Fire Department do that every day.
Prevention and preparation are vital elements of any home or business safety plan. Many of you have taken time to consider what to do if an emergency strikes your home, and how to get your family members to safety.
Your businesses are no different.
Do you have an evacuation plan in the event an emergency strikes your business, and do your employees know what to do and where to go in case of a fire or flood? Have you designated someone to assemble your employees after they evacuate to account for everyone, so you can tell rescue crews whether everyone has left the building or someone may still be inside?
Are your fire extinguishers fully charged? If your business requires hazardous materials, do you know what and where they are? Will you be able to list those for an emergency crew if one were to respond to an emergency at your business site?
We advise families to be self-sufficient for 72 hours in the event of a major catastrophe. We may not like to think so, but businesses are the same. If disaster strikes, and you can't get out of your building for three days, do you have adequate resources to hold out? Have you stocked up on non-perishable food and water? Do you have flashlights and batteries, tools to shut off a gas line? Can you make it through three days until a rescue crew arrived?
In upcoming issues, I will provide more tips and recommendations for how businesses can stay safe. In the meantime, if you need help assessing your business' safety needs, please call us. Your Fire Department is here to serve you.
The City of Carlsbad Fire Department can be reached at 760-931-2141.
As chief, I direct a staff of 90 of the finest firefighters and support personnel that can be found anywhere, as well as 100 dedicated volunteers. The department has an annual budget of $16.2 million.
But more importantly, my staff and I are responsible for ensuring the safety of more than 100,000 Carlsbad residents and the hundreds of businesses that thrive here.
This column marks the first of a series that will address safety issues that you face daily in your homes and businesses. I hope through this feature to advise you on how you can stay safe and make your business safer.
The Carlsbad Fire Department is responsible for helping the business community understand risks you face every day and telling you how to minimize or eliminate those risks. We play a big role in keeping your doors open and place a high priority on advising you how to stay as safe as possible.
We take a collaborative approach in helping you understand and abide by fire regulations, and we invite you to consult us regarding safety concerns at your business. We have a mutual interest in finding an option that works best to keep your business hazard free.
For those of you who haven't met me, I'd like to introduce myself. I began my career as a firefighter/paramedic in Poway in 1983 and transferred to Carlsbad three years later, where I've remained since.
I have been Carlsbad fire chief since 2002 and have been part of several national and local incidents, including the Harmony Grove Fire that struck Carlsbad in 1995, and the San Diego County wildfires of 2003 and 2007.
It's important to apply lessons learned through such experiences to our local community, and members of the Carlsbad Fire Department do that every day.
Prevention and preparation are vital elements of any home or business safety plan. Many of you have taken time to consider what to do if an emergency strikes your home, and how to get your family members to safety.
Your businesses are no different.
Do you have an evacuation plan in the event an emergency strikes your business, and do your employees know what to do and where to go in case of a fire or flood? Have you designated someone to assemble your employees after they evacuate to account for everyone, so you can tell rescue crews whether everyone has left the building or someone may still be inside?
Are your fire extinguishers fully charged? If your business requires hazardous materials, do you know what and where they are? Will you be able to list those for an emergency crew if one were to respond to an emergency at your business site?
We advise families to be self-sufficient for 72 hours in the event of a major catastrophe. We may not like to think so, but businesses are the same. If disaster strikes, and you can't get out of your building for three days, do you have adequate resources to hold out? Have you stocked up on non-perishable food and water? Do you have flashlights and batteries, tools to shut off a gas line? Can you make it through three days until a rescue crew arrived?
In upcoming issues, I will provide more tips and recommendations for how businesses can stay safe. In the meantime, if you need help assessing your business' safety needs, please call us. Your Fire Department is here to serve you.
The City of Carlsbad Fire Department can be reached at 760-931-2141.