Fireworks Sales Permit Applications Now Available

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - The Suisun City Council has legalized the sale of State-certified Safe and Sane fireworks within city limits from approved wholesalers to help raise money needed to fund future July 4th celebrations.

Local non-profit organizations interested in obtaining one of three available fireworks sellers permits can now apply to be selected.

The general process is as follows:

• Qualified non-profit groups can apply for one of three sales permits to be issued for 2012
• Applications are available at the Fire Station, City Hall and on this web page
• Completed applications with $50 application fee are due to the City Manager's Office by May 18
• If necessary, a lottery will be held at 10 a.m. May 22 in City Hall 
• Selected groups will be notified, and must complete all the steps outlined on the application, including submission of $85 permit fee, by June 11

For more information on the process, including links to the application and other important documents, please go to www.suisun.com/FD/Fireworks-Sales.html

World Trade Center Artifacts Arrive in Suisun City

SUISUN CITY - "We are now the custodians of a piece of American history," Suisun City Fire Chief Mike O'Brien declared Thursday as two steel beams recovered from the World Trade Center were delivered to the Suisun City Fire Department.

The 10-foot-long beams were donated to the Suisun City Fire Department ,and delivered for free across the country from the New York Port Authority by L&A Transport of Union, New Jersey.

The 9/11 artifacts will be a centerpiece of a 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony to be held on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at Harbor Plaza. More information on this event.

The beams were immediately loaded onto a trailer so they could be moved around the City for various temporary displays. Their first stop within hours of arriving in Suisun City was Suisun Elementary School, where the entire student body waited with flags and banners.

The beams will be integrated into a permanent 9/11 memorial to be erected in front of the Fire Station at 621 Pintail Drive. The Suisun City Firefighters Association is raising $20,000 to construct the memorial. More information on how to help or call the Fire Station at 707-429-1297.

The Firefighters Association launched a Facebook page to help gather support for the Memorial at www.Facebook.com/Suisun911Memorial.

World Trade Center Steel to Arrive in Suisun City

Steel beams reclaimed from the World Trade Center

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - Two 10-foot-long sections of steel reclaimed from the World Trade Center are scheduled to arrive at the Suisun City Fire Station at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011).

The artifacts of the 9/11 attacks in New York City were donated to the Suisun City Fire Department so they could be used for a permanent display in front of the Fire Station, at 621 Pintail Drive.

The steel pieces are being transported to Suisun City free of charge by New Jersey trucking company L&A Transport.  The company also is bringing a smaller section for the Rio Vista Fire Department.

The steel will be featured at a public memorial ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.  The Suisun City Firefighters Association is sponsoring the ceremony, which will officially begin at 12:30 p.m. at Harbor Plaza on Main Street at Solano Street. The public will be able to view the World Trade Center steel starting at Noon on Sunday.  For more information on the ceremony, go to www.visitsuisuncity.com/event/9-11-ceremony

The truck bringing the steel to the Fire Station is expected to travel westbound on Pintail Drive from Walters Road to the Fire Station.  The community is invited to watch the arrival, and encouraged to bring American flags and wear patriotic clothing.

In the near future, the Suisun City Fire Department will develop a program to bring the steel artifacts to local schools are part of a 9/11 education program.

The Suisun City Firefighters Association also raising approximately $20,000 to design and erect the permanent memorial using the 9/11 steel pieces.  For more information, go to http://suisun9-11.blogspot.com/; https://www.facebook.com/Suisun911Memorial; or call 707-429-1297.

Stay posted on what's happening in and around Suisun City on www.facebook.com/SuisunCity or www.twitter.com/SuisunCity

Public Input Sought for Suisun City Hazard Mitigation Plan

SUISUN CITY - City residents are encouraged to take part in a survey to help formulate the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for Suisun City and the neighboring Suisun Fire Protection District..

As recent events in Japan have shown, planning and preparing for disasters is a key element in minimizing loss of life and property, and ensuring the ability to respond and recover as quickly as possible.

Local hazard mitigation plans serve as a demonstration of the commitment to reduce the risks from natural hazards and are a guide for local leaders as they commit resources. This advance planning will help minimize, to the extent possible, the risk of loss of life and property during disasters.

Development of the plan is funded through a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

The survey, which is available both online and in paper form at the Fire Department and City Hall, is the opportunity for Suisun City residents and business owners to share their concerns about natural and human-caused hazards, and the community's needs in reducing risk and loss from disasters.

To take the survey online, please follow this link.

For questions regarding the survey, please contact Marketing Manager Scott Corey at 707-421-7333 or e-mail.

Earthquake Drill

Suisun City is participating in a statewide earthquake drill.

Had this been an actual emergency, you would have received new updates through this channel.

>> Click here for more information on the Great California ShakeOut >>
>> Click here for disaster preparedness tips >>

National Night Out set for Aug. 3

COMMUNITY TO JOIN TOGETHER AGAINST CRIME, DRUGS

SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Police Department is proud to sponsor National Night Out 2010 on Aug. 3 in Heritage Park.

One night a year, everyone in the community is invited to join with friends and neighbors in block parties across Suisun City to focus on public safety awareness and basic safety prevention techniques.

“This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and at the same time stand together against criminals who prey on the innocent,” said Chief Ed Dadisho.

It’s all part of National Night Out 2010, a nationwide effort to build safer communities through the old-fashioned small town virtues of getting to know your neighbors and watching out for each other.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and to send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and united in preventing crime, and taking back our neighborhoods.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on August 3rd, the Suisun City Police Department will host a community block party at Heritage Park located on Village Drive between Merganser and Pintail drives .
>> Click for map>>

The event will bring together various organizations committed to promoting community unification. This extraordinary event will include a free BBQ, children’s jump houses (sponsored by Code Kid), as well as other youth games and activities. There will be informational booths and safety demonstrations by local public safety agencies. All residents are invited to attend and join in the festivities.

In addition to the community block party, various Neighborhood Watch groups also will host localized block parties for their areas. City leaders, Firefighters and Police Officers will visit such parties throughout the evening. To register an individual block party, contact Pam Greenwood at 707-435-2748 or pgreenwood@suisun.com by July 27.

Lock your doors, turn on your outside light and spend the evening with your neighbors, your friends and your public safety officials. We all have to start somewhere, let’s make this the first step together.

>>Click for event information>>

UPDATE: Suisun City Firefighters Raise $11,484.40 to Save School Sports

SUISUN CITY — The Suisun City Firefighters Association collected $11,484.40 during its "Boot Drive" to help restore local school sports programs on Saturday April 24.

About 25 firefighters and their families were joined by more than 70 local school athletes, parents and coaches on Sunset Avenue near the Heritage Park and Sunset shopping centers. The Association had hoped to raise $3,000 to $5,000.

"It was a very successful day," said Fire Capt. Greg Renucci, who helped organize the event for the Firefighters Association.

All proceeds from the Boot Drive will go to the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District “Save Our Athletic Programs” effort to raise community donations to fund Middle and High School sports programs for the 2010/11 school year. The District recently cut all funding for sports programs to reduce its budget while preserving classroom instruction.

"We think sports are an important part of the school experience, so we want to do something to help," Renucci said. "This is just our part to support our local kids."

Residents are encouraged to stop by to visit. The sports programs could be fully restored if every household in Suisun City and Fairfield donated $18.

For more information, contact the Suisun City Fire Department at 707-425-9133.

>>Make a direct online, tax-deductible donation to the FSUSD SOAP Fund>>

ABOUT THE SUISUN CITY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

The Suisun City Firefighters Association has 43 members all of whom serve as volunteer firefighters in the Suisun City Fire Department. The Suisun City Fire Department is the largest urban fire service in California that is entirely staffed with volunteer firefighters.

In addition to staffing the Fire Department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Association sponsors a number of popular community events, including the annual Toys for Kids drive, Easter Egg Hunt and the Halloween Parade and Costume Contest that has been an annual favorite for more than 50 years.

Suisun City Fire Department Issues RFP for Hazard Mitigation Plan

SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Fire Department is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to develop a Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan that meets all California and Federal requirements.

The purpose of the plan is to demonstrate the City's commitment to reducing risks from natural hazards, and to provide guidance to community leaders committing related resources. Local plans also serve as the basis for California to provide technical assistance and to prioritize project funding.

The City of Suisun City and the Suisun Fire Protection District are working together to create a multi-jurisdictional plan to both better coordinate public safety services and to ensure that the City and the District continue to keep residents safe and remain eligible for future hazard mitigation funding.

Responses for this project are due April 21.

Qualified firms seeking more detailed information should follow this link.

To learn about future projects open for bidding, follow Suisun City on Twitter.

Christmas Tree Safety

SIMPLE STEPS HELP ENSURE A SAFE HOLIDAY

We want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season. The Suisun City Fire Department would like to help make sure that Suisun City residents are safe and secure by offering some simple tips to ensure a safe holiday:

• Make sure your artificial Christmas tree is labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
• Check to see that your live cut tree has fresh, green needles that don't fall off easily when touched.
• Cut about 1 to 2 inches off the trunk of your live cut tree before placing it in a stand that can hold water.
  
• Make sure to add water daily because trees consume lots of water, and can dry quickly indoors.
• Place your tree at least 3 feet away from a heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking any exits.
• Use lights that carry a label from an independent testing laboratory.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. String no more than 3 strands of mini string lights, and a maximum of 50 screw-in bulbs.
• Never use candles to decorate a tree.
• Always turn Christmas tree lights off before leaving home or going to bed.
• Get rid of the tree when it begins to drop needles. Dry trees are an extreme fire hazard. Use an after-Christmas community disposal program to remove the tree from your property.

>>Click here for more Christmas tree safety tips>>
>>Click here for holiday safety information from the National Fire Protection Association>>

Last Push for Firefighters Toys of Kids Drive

TOY DROP-OFF DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, DEC. 12

Time is running short to bring in a new, unwrapped toy for the Suisun City Toys for Kids drive. Friday is the last day the Firefighters Association will accept toys to be delivered this year.

Toys for children of all ages - from infants and toddlers to young teens - are needed to make Christmas brighter for local families that may go without this holiday season.

To participate, drop-off a new, unwrapped toy in the collection bin at

• Ace Hardware - 252 Sunset Avenue, 94585, in the Heritage Park Shopping Center, Sunset Ave. @ Highway 12
• Athenian Grill - 750 Kellogg Street, 94585
• Virgil's Bait & Tackle - 201 Main Street, 94585
  
• A&J's Pub and Grill - 605 Main Street, 94585
• Suisun City Fire Station - 621 Pintail Drive, 94585, @ East Wigeon Way

Your contribution will help make the Christmas season brighter for Suisun City's children.

Don't Forget the Batteries When You Change the Clock

At 2 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday Nov. 2), we switch back to Standard Time. Don't forget to "fall back" before you go to bed tonight (Saturday Nov. 1) by setting the time back one hour.

The Suisun City Fire Department encourages City residents to use this annual adjustment as the time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. It's also a good time to check to make sure the detector is still functional.

Studies from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicate that one out of four alarms may not be functional because of the age of the alarm, as well as dead or missing batteries. The NFPA strongly recommends that smoke alarms be replaced every 10 years.

The following are simple steps residents can take that will greatly reduce the risk of fire-related injury and property loss:

• Change the batteries in smoke alarms every six months or when the low battery signal is heard.
• Test your alarms weekly using the units’ test buttons to ensure batteries and all alarm functions are working properly.
• Never remove the unit’s batteries to stop an unwanted alarm or “nuisance” alarm, such as those caused by cooking smoke or burned toast. According to the NFPA, half of the deaths in homes equipped with smoke alarms occur because the smoke alarm did not sound – usually when batteries are dead, disconnected or missing.
• Replace older smoke alarms after 10 years or in accordance with manufacturer’s warranties.
  

Suisun City Fire Crew Battling So Cal Marek Fire

A crew of four Suisun City Fire Department volunteers is protecting homes northeast of Burbank as part of the 1,272 firefighters battling the Marek Wildland Fire.

Firefighters Hank Seguin, Greg Renucci & Nick Lott along with Engineer Gary Hall took Engine 247 south as part of a Type 1 strike team from Solano County assigned to structure protection. The crew will be deployed for 10 days, and may be reassigned to another fire burning across the arid hillsides of Southern California as the need arises.

The Suisun City Fire Department also has a 4-person crew standing by to deploy the brush truck with a second strike team, if it is summoned. California Department of Forestry officials are balancing the need to control the blazes in Southern California with the very real risk of wildland fires breaking out in Northern California. >>Click here to link to CDF fire incident info>>

Suisun City is very fortunate to have such dedicated people serving in our Fire Department. Keep them in your hearts and prayers as they complete their dangerous missions.

Volunteer Suisun City Battalion Chief Hired to Lead Humboldt Dept.

For nearly 20 years, Ken Woods has volunteered as a firefighter for the Suisun City Fire Department while working his "day job" at the state Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau.

Not only did his volunteer training help him rise to the rank of Battalion Chief in the Suisun City department (which is still a volunteer command post), he was recently hired to be the full-time, paid Fire Chief of the Humboldt #1 Fire Protection District, outside Eureka.

We always say that our volunteers are just as good, if not better, than many paid career firefighters. Ken just proved it by coming in at the top rank!

We're going to miss Ken here in Suisun City, but Humboldt is getting a top-notch professional to lead their fire department! We couldn't be prouder!

Audrey Wong of the Daily Republic has a story posted on the paper's website that starts like this:

SUISUN CITY - Ken Woods loves firefighting so much he worked as a firefighter for nearly 20 years without earning a dime.

All those years have led to Woods, 48, earning the rank of battalion chief, a volunteer position, in the Suisun City Fire Department.

'It's a real sense of helping the community because I live here and care about my neighbors,' Woods said. 'I can directly contribute to their well-being and make a difference in their lives in a situation where they're going through a rough time. I can affect their lives in a positive way.'

Woods will have new neighbors later this month, however. He has accepted the position of chief in the Humboldt Fire Protection District near Eureka and will begin the job Oct. 20.

In addition to leaving the Suisun City department, Woods is retiring after 27 years with the state Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau.

See the full story at www.dailyrepublic.com

The Daily Republic's Brad Zweerink took the great picture of Ken above.

New Fire Truck Is Done!

The brand new 100-foot ladder platform fire truck is done and on the highway en route to Suisun City! In fact, it might be here as early as Friday (Sept. 26)!

Chief Mike O'Brien and Battalion Chiefs Ken Woods and Dave Bellerive went back to Louisiana last week to sign off on this fantastic new addition to the Suisun City Fire Department at the Ferrara Fire Apparatus assembly facility. (Special thanks to Ferrara for all the great construction photos.)

Check out the slideshow!!

Plan to come to the Fire Department open house on October 11 to see the new truck up close!

New Fire Truck Nearly Finished!

Suisun City Fire Chief Mike O'Brien and two battalion chiefs are scheduled to make the final pre-delivery inspection of Suisun City's new 100-foot ladder platform fire truck next week!

They are anxiously watching Hurricane Ike and hope to be able to make the trip. If all goes as planned, the new truck may be in Suisun City in time for Fire Prevention Week, which is Oct. 5-11! (Psst! We're planning a Fire Station Open House for Oct. 11!)

We've added new pictures to our slideshow of the new truck being assembled by Ferrara Fire Apparatus in Holden, Louisiana. Check it out here.

Get Trained to Help During Disasters

You can be trained to help your family, neighbors and community in the aftermath of a major earthquake or other disaster, a critical time when government first-responders are likely to be overwhelmed by calls for service.

The Suisun City Fire Department and the Suisun City Police Department are teaming to bring Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to Suisun City.

To get involved, call the Fire Department at 707-421-7205 or e-mail mzunino@suisun.com. We are planning our first class this winter and are now looking for people who are interested.

The City received an $11,700 grant from Solano County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to start up the CERT program in Suisun City.

CERT programs focus on teaching residents to prepare for specific disasters or hazards that may impact the local area then trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Using skills learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist neighbors or co-workers after a disaster happens, such as a major earthquake, when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in the community.

Contact the Fire Department today to sign up for this important training by calling 707-421-7205 or e-mailing mzunino@suisun.com

Watch Our New Fire Truck Be Assembled

100-foot LADDER TRUCK EXPECTED IN SUISUN CITY BY END OF OCTOBER

Ferrara Fire Appartus Inc. is busily assembling an important new fire truck that will enable the Suisun City Fire Department to access and protect structures as the City continues to develop.

Thanks to the magic of the Internet (and the shutterbugs at the Ferrara plant in Louisiana) we can all follow along the progress of the truck's assembly by clicking here.

Here are the facts and figures provided by Ferrara:

• Cab Design: Inferno MFD 100' Mid Mount Platform
• Body Type: Heavy Duty Extruded Aluminum
• Pump Mount/Type: Side Mount Hale QMAX
• Tank Size: 300 Gallons Water
• Specialty Items: All electric discharge valves; Hinged right side pump panel; Right side EZ Stack hose bed; Fire extinguisher and spare SCBA storage over rear wheels; LED warning lights; Harrison 10kW hydraulic generator; Heavy duty mid-mount platform; 100’ vertical reach at only 72°; 99’ horizontal reach; 1500 GPM waterway; Monitor has 180° horizontal travel; Breathing air to tip; Dual 500W tripod lights at platform; Dual 500W landing lights under platform; 500# rappelling arm on platform; Base section stokes and roof ladder storage

President Thanks Suisun City Hero

SUISUN CITY FIREFIGHTER, TRAVIS MASTER SERGEANT GETS VOLUNTEER MEDAL FROM PRESIDENT BUSH

Few people are more self-effacing than firefighters who all too often do what many of us think we'd never be able to do to help someone else then shy away from special honors meant to say "thank you."

The Suisun City Council last month honored Hall and the other volunteer firefighters on his crew for their efforts to save the life of a 1-year-old girl who nearly drown in her family's wading pool.

But Gary Hall Jr. - an Air Force Master Sergeant and volunteer driver-operator for the Suisun City Fire Department - couldn't escape the Commander in Chief when he came through Travis Air Force Base last week.

Hall was there when President Bush came off Air Force One and was presented the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, for which he was nominated by his Air Force unit. 

Here's some of what Daily Republic reporter Ian Thompson wrote about the encounter:

FAIRFIELD - President Bush has recognized a Travis Air Force Base master sergeant for his work as a volunteer firefighter in Suisun City.

Master Sgt. Gary Hall met with Bush on the Travis flightline Thursday afternoon when the president stopped at Travis on his way to a fundraiser in Napa.

Bush presented Hall with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Hall was nominated for the award by members of his Air Force unit.

'It is an honor to get to salute the commander in chief,' Hall said Friday. 'It is also an honor to receive an honor for what I enjoy doing.'

When not on military duty, Hall spends three nights a week serving as a volunteer driver-operator with the Suisun City Fire Department.

'A lot of the guys in Suisun City volunteer as much as I do and I am in no way unique,' Hall said. 'The rest of the guys work as hard as I do. It is just fortunate that the military has a process to recognize people for their community involvement.'

For more of the Daily Republic's report, visit www.dailyrepublic.com. We'd like to thank the DR for use of the photo above, as well.

The Napa Valley Register also carried an article by Editor Bill Kisliuk on Hall's honor:

Few Napans got to see President George W. Bush on Thursday. Gary Hall shook his hand.

Hall, 43, a Vintage High School graduate, Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and volunteer with the Suisun Fire Department, had the honor of being present when Air Force One landed at Travis Air Force Base Thursday afternoon.

Hall was tapped for the special occasion both for his work as an in-flight refuel operator for the 6th Air Refueling Squadron and for some recent heroics with Suisun’s volunteer fire department.

On June 1, Hall helped save the life of a toddler found floating in a residential pool, and on Fathers Day helped with the emergency delivery of a baby, even cutting the umbilical cord for the mother.

Then came Thursday.

The president, Hall said, “got off the aircraft. He greeted some VIPs on the base — the base commander, wing commander and some other people ... He came over and I got to salute my commander-in-chief, which very few people get to do.”

Hall told the president, “Welcome to California.”

The president, he said, thanked Hall for his service to the country, then he moved.

“He had other things to do,” said Hall, who noted the president also greeted a woman — whom Hall did not know — who like Hall appeared to have been chosen because of her community service.

Hall grew up in Napa and graduated from Vintage High School. He was a city of Napa Fire Explorer as a teen, and was a reserve firefighter for the city of Napa before entering the Air Force in 1986.

He, his wife Peggy and daughter Nicole live in Suisun. He plans to retire from the service in February.

So, what was it like to meet the president?

“It was cool,” said Hall. “Like I said, as a member of the military, he’s my commander in chief. Not many people in the military get to be personally recognized. It’s special I got to do it.”

Hall appreciated the honor, but insisted others are just as deserving. Acknowledging the other volunteers in the Suisun Fire Department, he said, “There are an awful lot of people who do the same thing I do.”

Suisun City is very proud of Gary and all of the volunteers who selflessly staff the City's fire department.  All of our residents owe you more thanks than could ever be adequately expressed.

Infant rescued from pool

FAST ACTION BY SUISUN CITY POLICE AND FIRE DEPTS. SAVES CHILD

SUISUN CITY - A 1-year-old girl was resuscitated on Sunday and is expected to recover from an apparently accidental drowning because of the life-saving CPR administered by Suisun City Police officers and Firefighters.

About 10:11 a.m., Suisun City Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call reporting a 1-year-old girl had drown in the family pool of a residence in the 1000 block of Whistler Drive. Within 2 minutes, Police Officer Philip Steemers and Fire Engine 47 were on the scene.

The child's mother had pulled the child from the pool and initiated CPR , which started clearing the child's lungs. Meeting Officer Steemers in the front yard, she handed over her daughter, who was not breathing and had no pulse. Officer Steemers continued CPR for less than a minute before the EMT-D trained fire crew took over life-saving treatment.

"After approximately 10 long minutes, and much heartfelt effort from all, these special people were able to bring the child back to life," said Officer David Fong, who arrived at the scene after the fire crew and witnessed their efforts. "Prior to the ambulance transporting the young victim (to NorthBay Medical Center), the victim was breathing and a pulse was present."

With medical attention from hospital personnel, the girl's breathing improved and it appears as though she will make a successful recovery, fire Capt. Mel Torres said.

In an e-mail he later wrote to his public safety colleagues, Officer Fong was clearly filled with deep appreciation for the determined, quick and professional actions of his Suisun City colleagues.

"People like this is why I love working within the City of Suisun City," Officer Fong wrote. "You are all heroes to me and our victim."

In addition to Officer Steemers and Capt. Torres, Firefighters Gary Hall and Richard Anderson and Reserve Firefighter Phillip Martin responded to this family's call for help.

"Congratulations on an extraordinary job well done!" said City Manager Suzanne Bragdon.

Suisun City is extremely appreciative of its all-volunteer Fire Department, the members of which are dedicated to the highest level of training to be there when the community needs them most.