SANGER – With the Garnet Fire nearly in the rearview, the city of Sanger has put the spotlight on local firefighters; both current and future.
The Sept. 18 Sanger City Council meeting saw the introduction of new fire department staff, a presentation on the Valley Regional Occupational Program’s (Valley ROP) firefighting pathway and the approval of an agreement with Valley ROP for EMT training and mentorship.
Fresh faces
The Sanger Fire Department’s newest staff includes firefighters Antonio Aldaz, Lindsay Castellanos, Garret Salazar and Leonardo Zepeda, as well as EMT Lyndsey Little.
“Thank you guys for stepping up and coming to work for the city of Sanger,” said Mayor Frank Gonzalez. “We appreciate you guys, it’s so good to see nice, new young faces in our department.”
Aldaz is a Clovis native, and this will be his first fire service job. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business at Fresno State, and has two daughters at home.
Castellanos attended Buchanan High School then Fresno City Fire Academy. She brings ambulance experience as well as time served with the North Central Fire Protection District, and is the mother of one-year-old daughter.
Salazar is from Kingsburg, and graduated from the fire academy at College of the Sequoias. He brings with him eight months of experience with American Ambulance in Visalia, and two seasons with CalFire. He is the father of a one-year-old son.
Zepeda is from Orosi but was raised in Clovis, graduating from the fire academy at Fresno City College. He interned with the Sanger Fire Department for 450 hours, and thus, had had extensive experience with the department before even being hired. He is a father to two sons.
Little will be serving as the department’s newest EMT and will be serving the city that her family calls home. She brings prior experience in public service, having spent time with the sheriff’s department.
Fostering future generations
After the introduction of the department’s newest additions, the council heard a presentation from Superintendent Fabrizio Lofaro and Captain Rory Smith on the strength of Valley ROP’s Urban and Rural Firefighting Program.
Lofaro gave some background on the program, informing the council that the program was initially thanks to a FEMA grant from 15 years ago, and now serves more than 250 students across Sanger, Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and other surrounding communities.
Smith, who works as the instructor of the urban and rural firefighting class at Sanger High, gave the council a brief overview of the course’s structure. Students who go through the program at the high school level gain pre-EMT skills and learn how to use firefighting equipment, earning four credits at Fresno City College.
Smith and the program’s other instructors also place a heavy emphasis on teaching students career pathways in firefighting, and how to get a foot in the door with the profession.
“I’m trying to make my students viable candidates for Sanger Fire,” Smith said to the council.
Ivy Lopez, a recent student of Smith who is now taking the wildland firefighting course at Reedley College, stepped up to the podium and shared her experience with the program thus far. Lopez has been able to get swift water rescue training, and the training required to get certified as an emergency medical responder. Through the program, she was also able to do a paid summer internship with the Sanger Fire Department.
“I’ve learned things about myself and the career I want to pursue,” Lopez said to the council. “Because of the classes I’ve taken through Valley ROP, I’ve only wanted to pursue my dreams of becoming a first responder so much more.”
Alan Palayo also shared his experience with the program, having taken courses at Sanger High School, EMT classes through a Valley ROP scholarship and the fire academy at Fresno City College. Through the knowledge and experience he gained, he now finds himself serving with the Hanford Fire Department.
After the presentation, the council members congratulated the students for their hard work and dedication, and expressed delight in the program’s offerings.
“It’s great to see that there’s a clear pathway for (students) to get involved and serve their community, and I’m happy to hear that this has opened doors for them to seek other opportunities within the industry,” said Councilmember Esmeralda Hurtado.
Keeping the torch lit
Though the council was happy to see how much enthusiasm students of Sanger have surrounding firefighting and first responding, the city is continuing to advance the pathways available to eager learners.
Within the consent calendar, the council approved an agreement between the city of Sanger and Valley ROP for EMT students to receive training and clinical preceptorship at the fire department. The goal is to give students easier access to the clinical field experience required from Valley ROP, while increasing the skills of current paramedics through teaching others.
Californians know better than most the importance of skilled and reliable firefighters, and the city of Sanger is doing its part to keep the flames of passion for public service burning.
