Bell Canyon Volunteer Wildland Fire Department

What is CERT?

CERT originated with LAFD in 1985, when it was clear there was a need for trained community volunteers to assist in disasters when other emergency resources were overwhelmed. The devastating Mexico City earthquake of that same year, where around 100 untrained good samaritans perished, drove home the idea that because some citizens will want to help out in natural disasters, it was better that they are trained and organized.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

The CERT program is administered and supported nationally by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are several thousand CERT teams across the US, and approximately 450 in California.

Many of the Bell Canyon CERT team members took the certification class in 2016 with LAFD, and then new members (and some of the veterans took it again) earned their certifications in 2022 with VCFD. Member Jerry Murphey has been with us the longest, and was both a DART and CERT member before the 2016 training course. Our team often participates in joint trainings with the BCVWFD.

Hi BC. Our 2023 end-of-year stats are below.

A note on our fire vehicle garage project: despite rumors and accusations to the contrary on other FaceBook pages and in e-mail chains (consider the sources!), we are still actively forging a path to see this project realized. Your generous donations are secure. As always, if you have legitimate concerns or questions, please reach out and we will arrange a time to meet and address the same.

Also, as many of you already know, we are circulating a petition of Bell Canyon residents to the County of Ventura to help expedite the permitting of the garage, etc. Please contact us if you haven’t yet signed. Any resident or renter over age 18 may sign. [email protected]

In light of rumors and intentionally-rendered false statements to the contrary, we want to reassure community members who have supported our efforts to build a shelter to protect our fire trucks and equipment that we are indeed moving forward (in concert with County Supervisor Parvin’s office.)

Inexplicably, there have been attempts by some community members and at least one non-resident to thwart our efforts to complete this building. As always, the BCVWFD is here to serve all of those within the Bell Canyon gates, and we look forward to realizing our construction goals -- including the donor bricks and Founding Donor plaque.

Thanks again for your continued support!

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The BCVWFD is featured in an ABC Channel 7 story. Link here.

https://abc7.com/bell-canyon-volunteer-fire-department-woolsey-california-wildfires/13946576/?fbclid=IwAR0NQnAJMjbzfKPaoGxTn-XSzI0690Eb9MtFmx-8BVCk-VoJosH8HLnKgDQ

Bell Canyon's volunteer fire department aims at preventing next big wildfire The mission of the department is not to replace professional firefighters, but to give them time to reach remote areas that can be difficult to navigate during an emergency.

We want to clarify some confusion that some residents/non-residents have exhibited recently regarding our rattlesnake calls (we have done 52 so far this year).

1. Snake wranglers charge a pretty penny to take a rattler from your property. The BCVWFD does this service for free. Zero charge.

Additionally, it is unlikely that a snake wrangler will be available to come to your home in a timely fashion, and snakes don't stick around all day in the same spot.

2. No, LAFD does not take (and kill) rattlers for free. We all pay taxes for the emergency services provided by LAFD, through a contract with Ventura County Fire. LAFD bills VCFD by the resource and the minute. So an engine with 3 or 4 firefighters coming from Station 106 on Roscoe takes 25+ minutes from station house back to station house, and that's a hefty cost that they bill to VCFD (4 FFs + 1 diesel-burning engine + a lengthy drive). We have been told it is in the range of $700+ for each rattlesnake call.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, taking an engine filled with firefighters out of service leaves a whole section of the West Valley vulnerable. If the truck is up on Saddlebow fetching a rattler, and for example, if there is a bad traffic accident on Roscoe, the poor folks involved will be waiting a very long time for medical assistance.

By the way -- LAFD has thanked us often for taking over the snake calls. They even roll them over to us when the rare call comes to them.

3. Good luck waiting for Ventura Co. Animal Control!

We were invited by Ventura County Sheriff's Office to the Underwood Family Farms first-responder event this past weekend. Great to have more of the public learn about us -- and to show our gear to many future firefighters.

The BCVWFD conducted an active shooter training drill, with an EMS/medical focus, this past Sunday. Our instructor Mark Hollinger is also our department medical officer, and he runs active shooter trainings for many local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. We are fortunate to have him as a member of the BCVWFD!

WARNING: GRAPHIC MANNEQUIN IMAGES BELOW

Sunday morning drill -- and a reminder that as fuels continue to become drier, the deck gun on Engine 83 delivers 250gpm, and can shoot 100 feet or more.

Thanks to Scott Templeton for bringing us donuts!

Got in some ropes-rescue training this morning on Saddlebow...

Busy last few days for BCVWFD. Cleaned up a giant fallen tree on one of our trails, was on stand-by for a rescue, tested our ATV on the BC fire road, chipped a bunch of trees, caught another fat rattler...

Here's what we've been doing the last 6 months...

The BCVWFD wishes all residents an enjoyable and safe Fourth of July weekend and holiday. Please be mindful of the laws governing use of fireworks (see Ventura County Fire Department statement below; Bell Canyon is one of the unincorporated areas mentioned, and therefore it is illegal to use here).

We will be on patrol; don’t hesitate to call if you need us. (818) 699-1191