Battalion 14 has been through many changes over the past 5 years since this page has been updates. Here is a summary of what has been going on.

Station 16
Pedley Station 16 would to say a few welcomes and a few good byes. Riverside County Board of Supervisors has decided to upgrade the staffing levels at Station 16 to consist of a Fire Captain, Engineer and Firefighter on duty every day with one of those being a Paramedic. With the change in staffing Station 16 would like to welcome Captain David Bell and Engineer Nica Vasquez. On a sad note, Station 16 is loosing Firefighter Tim Anderson and Firefighter/Paramedic Jordion Ciota. Tim is moving out to the Desert and Jordon has moved to battalion relief. Division Chief Mecham has allocated some funds to finally remodel Station 16 which includes a plymovent system and some much awaited interior work.

Station 17
Glen Avon Station 17 has been through many changes over the past 5 years. The 75' Quint was replaced with a 100' TDA Smeal, Engine 17 was replaced with a new Smeal as well. Engineer Frederick was tasked with putting in service a Urban Search and Rescue vehicle. USAR 17 has been in service for a few years now and it looks great. Station 17 also took delivery of a USAR support vehicle. As far as the personnel goes, there has been quite a few changes. Captain Colvin transfered into his old truck position on A-Shift, Captain Oakley and Captain Hoopingarner are also assigned to the truck now. Engineer Alarcon left Riverside to take a Captain position up in Shasta, we wish you the best Tony. After many long years of being a BLS Ladder truck, the County has decided to make Truck 17 an ALS truck. Truck 17 lost 3 good firemen due to the ALS transition but also welcomes a few good medics. Station 17 will miss FF Pete Boctor, FF Keith Doyle and FF Eddie Ortiz,  and FF Steven Caban, all will be working out in the desert with the exception of Steven who will still be with us at Station 19. Engine 17 also received a few new faces. Engine 17 welcomes Captain James Agapay, and Firefighter / Paramedic Diley Grieser.

Station 18
West Riverside Station 18 has felt the budget issues as well. Engine 18 was recently taken out of service due to the financial situation that the county is in. Engine 18 has been replaced with a Medic Squad staffed daily with 2 personnel. Station 18 has seen new arrivals as well as a few that have left us. Welcome Engineer Mark Braun and Engineer Jorge Segura. Station 18 would like to wish Firefighter Jay May the best of luck with his transfer down to San Diego and wish Captain Todd Phillips the best with his transfer over to Station 76. The State engine has been brought back online for the summer and it also has a new face assigned to it. Captain Vince Kirk welcome to Engine 3166.

Station 38
Rubidoux Fire Station 38 has had its ups and down with the rest of the county, Truck 38 was taken out of service a few years ago. Captain Phil Kallenberger retired after 38 years of service. Captain Joe Taylor transfered behind Phil from Truck 17. Engine 38 also would like to welcome back Engineer Jorge Padilla and welcome Engineer / Paramedic Josh Robinson. Engine 38 was converted 2 years ago to an ALS engine meaning there is always atleast one paramedic on that engine. With the engine converting to a ALS engine, we were able to take on a few paramedic transfers. Engine 38 welcomes Firefighter / Paramedic Ray Leanos and Richard Maddox. The old 1986 Engine 238 was recently replaced with a 1999 Saulsbury Engine. Station 38 also received a Breathing Support and will have a plymovent system installed along with Station 16

Station 19
Highgrove Station 19 hasn't changed to much. Water Tender 19 has been moved over to Clark Training Center. Station 19 has seen 2 new faces. Engineer / Paramedic Rex Morris transfered in after Station 15 was closed and Firefighter Steven Caban transfered over when his position on truck 17 was converted to a Paramedic position.

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  It has been a while since this site has been updated, so here are some of the major happenings in Batt. 14:
  
  Battalion Chief Bill Whitlock has retired. The Chief is currently enjoying his retirement with his wife and has recently purchased a couple of quads to occupy thier time. Be safe boss!
  
  Fire Captain Mike Mackenzie has also retired from the Truck. Mike is currently residing in the Southeastern United States and probably has his line in the water as I am writing this. Enjoy Cap!

We would like to welcome Battalion Chief Bryan Deyo to the battalion. Chief Deyo has been here with us a few weeks now, and is very happy to see that his lights and siren still work.

Fire Fighters Rogne and Porter are currently attending the COA in Ione. Good luck to them both.

Station 38 has moved into the new station on Mission Blvd. The crews are almost ready to put the new T38 into service and then we will update the site with all the changes in the crews and equipment.

New pictures will be posted as they are submitted. We can only update this site with information if you guys submit it. The picture above is from a SFD structure fire on Darren Circle in Mira Loma.

On 7/7/06 Deputy Birmingham and his wife became the proud new parents of a baby boy Cameron Joseph Birmingham. He weighed in at 9lbs9oz and 21.5 inches long. Everyone is doing fine, even Tor! Congratulations from Battalion 14!

In the last two months there have been three railroad related incidents in the Pedley area. And one in Riverside at the Santa Ana River Bridge resulting in a fatality.

6/23/06 – 2240hrs – Union Pacific freight train vs. Pedestrian
An elderly woman survived being struck by a train Clay St. near Van Buren in Pedley. An eastbound UP stack train led by UP 5296 had just left the Pedley Station when approaching Clay St the engineer noticed a body lying on the tracks. Being that the crew did not see the body moving they assumed that the person was already expired and they went into a non-emergency stop stopping the head end of the train about a 1/3 mile to the east of the intersection.

E16 with T17 were dispatched and responded to the location given. Arriving on scene at 2042hrs E16 encountered the stopped train and many sheriffs’ deputies in the area. Upon exiting the engine Captain Palmer noticed something under the train just to the west of the crossing. Expecting the worst he approached the train and discovered an elderly woman under the train with obvious trauma but still breathing. At this point access to the patient was impossible for two reasons, one not being in contact with the crew and two we were unable to access the patient under the well car.

Several Union Pacific supervisors showed as well as the conductor of the train. Finally we got clearance and accessed the patient thru the top of the well and determined we could extricate up through the well with some effort. The patient was remarkably conscious and somewhat alert. We originally thought she had been struck by the train and just landed underneath it. Later we found out she had been lying on the tracks and the train had hit her as it passed over her causing major trauma to her hands, arms and head, but no other broken bones and all her vitals were stable.

The patient ended being an Alzheimer patient from a facility up the street and had managed to walk to the tracks, where it appears she laid down to take a nap. The patient was expected to recover fully and has to be one of the luckiest people to survive being run over by a freight train.

7/28/06 – 1330hrs – Metrolink vs. Vehicle
Companies 16, 17, 18, & 38 along with 5 AMR units, an EMS captain and battalion chief were dispatched to a MCI, vehicle vs. train at Clay St x/UP tracks.

E16 was the first engine to arrive on the scene. Enroute to the given location we passed Metrolink 411 on the tracks, that was a good thing. When we got to the tracks on Clay we could see a car about 200' down the tracks to the west. E16 along with AMR confirmed one DOA in the car, no other victims at this location. E17 checked on the passengers on the Metrolink and advised no injuries there either. All units were released except for T17 to assist the coroner with the removal of the body.

See photos from the incident here.

8/11/06 – 2000hrs – Union Pacific freight train vs. vehicle
Companies 16, 17 & 18 were dispatched to a reported cut ‘n’ rescue, train vs. vehicle at Pedley x/Jurupa. The Union Pacific Crestmore Local had struck a vehicle trying to pass in front of it at the intersection. Luckily for the driver she almost made it but was struck in the rear quarter panel and did not receive any injuries.

At 2:39pm today there was a three car train derailment in Highgrove. The derailment occurred at Center St x/Transit St. One of the railcars contained maleic acid, but no product was released. Haz Mat was called in until the cars could be righted back onto the tracks.

I know what you're thinking "Dave, where's the photos?". Unfortunately I found out about this on the news missing any opportunities. Maybe someone on scene was able to take some.

On March 13, 2006 Battalion 14 was involved in three fundraiser. Stations 16 & 19 hosted their annual pancake breakfast events. Engine & Truck 17 were involved in a fundraiser for a CHP officer suffering from cancer, the benefit was for a college fund for the officers daughter. Click this link to read a full article on the CHP officer.

Station 16's pancake breakfast was partipated by thousands of local residences. Equipment at the event included squad 18 & 34, engines 16 & 18, COM 11, several RSO units including the K9 unit with "Tor". Here with see Tor with Officer Birmingham and Miss Jurupa Valley. Another shot of Tor with a forced smile it appears.



















The big attraction was the fire steamer from CSFA.




















Here we have a great photo of Engineer Pau's daughter and Blaze with the CSFA Steamer. Another shot of Engineer Pau's daughter and son. And below Engineer Pau running the pump and Firefighter May from Engine 16 poses with Blaze, don't ask!

Truck 17 was dispatched to assist animal control with a crow stuck in the tree. Yes, a crow! It had been entangled in some fishing line and needed some assistance getting down. Thanks to the fine ladder placement of FAE Barnett the 75’ stick was just enough for the crew of T-17 to make a successful rescue. Unfortunately the bird had a broken leg and had to euthanized.

  

Alcohol related traffic collisions are a major social, health and economic problem. California reported 1233 persons killed and 30,971 injured in alcohol related vehicle collisions in the year 200 alone. Teen drivers have been found responsible for many of these "accidents". The every 15 minutes program is a two day program focusing on high school juniors and seniors, and challenges them to think about drinking and driving, ultimately giving them an option to make better decisions. The program received the name from the early 1990's statistics when Every 15 minutes, someone in the United States died in an alcohol related traffic collision,

On April 27th and 28th, 2006, Jurupa Valley High School hosted a Every 15 Minutes program. On the first day, pre-selected students were removed from class and labeled as a statistic. A mock crash scene was staged in front of the school and involved five students from the campus. This event was the center of attention for several hours. The crash scene involving students consisted of two students transported for major injuries to Parkview Community Hospital, one student was arrested and one was pronounced dead on scene.

Riverside County Fire Department station 16 and 17 assisted in a huge capacity to make this event seem very real, and a huge success. With the hesitance of personnel from station 17, the initial response was enormous and the enthusiasm brought a sense of excitement and realism that students continue to talk about this day.

Engineer Mark Williams from station 17 volunteered to speak to over 900 kids present the next day at the assembly the second day, all with only a few moments notice. The efforts of personnel like Engineer Williams as well as each Riverside County Fire participant reflect great credit upon themselves as well as the department. Without RCoFD's involvement, the program would not have been a success.

Click here to see photos from the Every 15 Minutes program.

Thank You,
Michael Shacklett
Riverside County Sheriff's Department
School Resource Officer Jurupa Valley High School

Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer

ONTARIO - Black smoke and flames burst from a crash involving three tractor-trailers on Wednesday, leaving one man dead and two others injured.
Motorists jumped out of their cars and workers in surrounding industrial buildings came running with fire extinguishers to the scene at Milliken Avenue and Mission Boulevard.
Photo Gallery: Ontario Semi Collision Watch New Video:04/27: Deadly tractor trailer crash
"Everything was on fire and there was gas all over the place," said Christopher Lee, a Monterey Park courier who saw the crash.

Witnesses told police that the crash involved a driver heading east on Mission, a driver heading south on Milliken and a driver who was stopped at a red light facing north on Milliken.
The driver heading south and the driver heading east collided. It was unclear who had the green light to enter the intersection, police said. Then the driver heading south on Milliken slid down an embankment and his tractor burst into flames, but he crawled out of the cab before suffering any serious burns. The man driving east in a blue tractor-trailer suffered grave injuries and witnesses saw paramedics performing CPR on him before he was taken away. The driver, a Calexico resident whose name was not released because his relatives hadn't been notified as of last evening, was pronounced dead at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, said Ontario police Cpl. Jeff Crittenden.

A third big-rig driver suffered moderate injuries and was hospitalized, Riverside County firefighters said. His truck was struck after the initial collision.
About 25 firefighters from Riverside County and Ontario came to the scene about 12:40 p.m. and extinguished the blaze, fire spokesman Patrick Chandler said.
But before emergency personnel arrived, several witnesses tried to do what they could to help the crash victims.

Andy Cervantes, a worker at nearby Diamond Wipes, got curious when he heard the noise outside. "I hear loud bangs from trains passing by, but this one sounded different," Cervantes said. "I just stuck my head out to see what was going on and Milliken was on fire."
Lee heard the crash and ran over to the man in the blue tractor-trailer. He said the cab door was jammed, so he grabbed a rock and broke the window. He still couldn't get the man out. Rancho Cucamonga resident Jose Galarza got out of his car and also ran up to the blue rig to help. But witnesses caught in the chaos backed off after explosions came from the burning tractor.

"The trees caught on fire and the tires were exploding," Galarza said.
Witnesses were especially concerned initially because they thought a man was still inside the burning tractor-trailer.

"I ran across the street and we had fire extinguishers, there was a guy inside and then there was an explosion," said Francisco Barba, a Fontana resident. Barba was relieved when he realized the big-rig driver had actually made it outside the cab. He didn't appear to have suffered any serious injuries, he said. "His eyebrows were burned off and his hair was singed," Barba said.

Photos located in the Battalion Photo Gallery.

Melissa Pinion-Whitt can be reached by e-mail at m_pinion-whitt@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9378.