|
About the CCSD Fire Department
The CCSD Fire Department is comprised of Fire Chief Bob Putney; Assistant Fire Chief Mark Miller; Captains Steve Bitto, Michael Gallagher, and William Hollingsworth; Engineers Ryan Maloney, Emily Singer and Paul Ellis; and Secretary Linda de Clercq. Staff is supported by approximately a dozen paid on-call reservists who are shared with the County of San Luis Obispo as well as the North Coast Ocean Rescue team. A minimum of three trained fire personnel are on duty at the CCSD Fire Department 24/7. FIRE CHIEF
|
|
Fire Chief Bob Putney began his firefighting career in 1973 with the Napa County Fire Department. He has a teaching credential from the University of California at Berkeley and a paramedic certificate from Stanford University Medical Center. In September 2000, he was hired by the CCSD to direct the activities of the CCSD Fire Department. Chief Putney plans, directs, and manages all aspects of the Fire Department including supervision of staff and reservists. |
ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF
|
Assistant Fire Chief Mark Miller is responsible for planning, directing, and supervising the department's fire suppression efforts and personnel. His fire service career spans 30 years beginning with the city of Westminster, Colorado where he spent 20 years as a Line Suppression Captain, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator and Deputy Fire Marshal. He is a certified paramedic and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Advanced Fire Administration. |
|
CAPTAINS
|
|
Fire captains supervise the on-duty crew, which includes one engineer and one firefighter. They also handle emergency calls and other fire department duties. Each brings a specific area of expertise to the Fire Department.
Left to right: Steve Bitto, William Hollingsworth, and Michael Gallagher.
| Captain Michael Gallagher has been with the CCSD Fire Department since 2003 and has more than 12 years experience as a firefighter/fire captain. His key responsibilities include managing fire, medical, rescue, hazardous materials and other emergencies. He is also involved in training, maintenance of equipment, inspection and installation of child car seats, residential and commercial fire inspections and other Fire Department functions. Captain Gallagher is also a licensed Emergency Medical Technician-Defibrillation.
Captain Steve Bitto was a volunteer firefighter with the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department for eight years prior to being hired by the CCSD Fire Department in January 1990. In 1994, he was promoted to Fire Captain/Prevention Officer and is currently responsible for public education, emergency response, and is the team coordinator for the North Coast Ocean Rescue.
Captain William Hollingsworth launched his career in 1991 as a volunteer firefighter with the CCSD Fire Department and EMT for the Cambria Community Healthcare District. He attended the Allan Hancock Fire Academy and Stanford/Foothill paramedic program and worked as a paramedic/shift superrvisor for 11 years prior to assuming his position as Fire Captain in Cambria. His responsibilities with the CCSD Fire Department include handling all emergency responses on his shift and managing the Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program.
ENGINEERS
|
Engineers are required to be certified firefighters as well as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The engineers drive and maintain firefighting vehicles and are responsible for pumping water during fires and other emergencies.
From left to right are Fire Engineers Ryan Maloney, Emily Singer and Paul Ellis.
|
| Emily Singer began her career with the CCSD Fire Department as a Reserve Firefighter in 2000 and was promoted to full-time Fire Engineer in January 2005. In addition to her numerous certifications and course work in firefighting, she is also a paramedic and occasionally works for the Cambria Community Healthcare District. She graduated from the Allan Hancock Fire Academy.
Paul Ellis has been a Fire Engineer with the CCSD Fire Department since October 2005. Prior to that he was with the Parker Colorado Fire Department for three years. He began his fire service career in 1968 with the U.S. Air Force and was a Los Angeles City firefighter from 1970-1991.
Ryan Maloney started with the CCSD as a Reserve Firefighter in 1999 and was promoted to full-time Fire Engineer in January 2005. From 1997-2006, Ryan was with the Arroyo Grande Fire Department as Engineer II and OIC. He holds numerous certifications for firefighting and engineering, and is working on his captain certifications.
RESERVE FIREFIGHTERS
|
|
The Fire Department is fortunate to have many paid on-call firefighters. Of these, two are experienced lieutenants who have extensive experience in firefighting and emergency response experience.
From left to right:: Dexter Updon, and Denis deClercq. |
Denis de Clercq has been an on-call firefighter for the CCSD Fire Department since 2000 when the San Luis Obispo County and CCSD Fire Departments combined their volunteer firefighting forces. Prior to his work with the CCSD, he was a 20-year reservist for the SLO County/CDF.
Dexter Upton has been a volunteer with the CCSD Fire Department since 1969, and is currently a reserve Lieutenant. For the past 30 years he has also been a volunteer crew member with the Cambria Community Healthcare District.
NORTH COAST OCEAN RESCUE
|
The North Coast Ocean Rescue team (NCOR) is a group of volunteers dispatched through the 911 system to ocean emergencies from Morro Bay to the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse.
NCOR members include:Tom Benton, Steven Bitto, Benjamin Boer, Mike Casey, Michael Gallagher, Wayne Gracey, Mike Oliver, Todd Potter, Robert Putney, Richard Stacy, Matthew Brody, and Tiyanya Nourbakahsh. |
 |
|
