News

San Bernardino City Fire Becomes Part of San Bernardino County Fire

Ryan Hagen

07/01/2016

July 01--SAN BERNARDINO -- One hundred-thirty-eight years after Charles F. Rowe was part of the formation of this city's fire department, his great-great grandson Scott Leidner was part of its dissolution Thursday.

Leidner was among 150 San Bernardino City firefighters and support staff who transitioned at midnight into employees of the San Bernardino County Fire Department, a distinction Leidner said Thursday night was disappointing.

"It's a privilege to be part of that legacy, and it's sad to see it end," said Leidner, who has five generations of San Bernardino residents on his mother's side -- some of them firefighters, some not.

All of the firefighters who wore city uniforms Thursday remain firefighters Friday, and the county guaranteed employment to all qualified employees.

But now they're part of a new tradition.

"It's bittersweet," fire Capt. Mike Arvizo said Thursday. "A lot of experience is leaving the city, people who know this city inside-and-out."

Arvizo, who has been with the department for 16 years, is among the one-third of employees choosing to keep working within the city's borders rather than transferring elsewhere in the county.

"For some people it makes sense to work closer to where they live," Arvizo said.

At least one firefighter with a history in the city will be assigned to each fire engine, according to Arvizo.

The number of firefighters isn't dropping -- in fact, an additional paramedic squad will begin working in the city.

The paramedic squad was among the cuts San Bernardino made in recent years, part of the fiscal difficulties city officials say forced them to make the tough decision of annexing the city's fire services into the county. The move is projected to save $7 million to $8 million per year, in part through a new parcel tax that starts at $148 per year.

Fire officials say response times should also improve because of efficiencies like integrating with the county for dispatch and other services.

Since Monday, city firefighters have been learning county protocols, so they should be ready on Day One, said county fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez. Although the change becomes official Friday, the personnel swap comes Sunday, when shifts change.

It's not the only change coming to the Fire Department Friday.

Twentynine Palms, a 58-year-old department, was absorbed the same day.

And the addition of San Bernardino City -- which patrolled a 60-mile city with an unusually high volume of calls -- convinced the county to create a new fire district, effective Friday.

Known as the East Valley Division, it will be led by Assistant Chief John Chamberlin.

Chamberlin, whose own career began with county fire's absorption of an existing agency -- Adelanto, in 1999 -- most recently led the county's South Desert Division.

"San Bernardino has come to expect the highest level of fire protection in their community and San Bernardino County Fire is committed to maintaining and ultimately enhancing the service delivery to the community," Chamberlin said in an email Thursday. "It's a privilege and honor to serve this city."