Interim chief making strides to improve Yermo/Calico Fire Department

March 03--YERMO -- Yermo/Calico Fire Department interim Chief Don Simard has put the department in "better shape" in just four months at the helm, Fire Commissioner Gary Yearsley said.

Yearsley, who sits on the Yermo Community Service District's board of directors, said the Fire Department was in bad shape until Simard stepped in as interim chief in October.

A Pinon Hills resident who works as a full-time fire captain with the Marine Corps Logistics Base Fire Department, Simard doesn't even have any real ties to the Yermo area.

But since taking on the role of a volunteer fire chief, the department has seen numerous changes and is as busy as ever.

"We know the Fire Department does not have a good record and we are changing that," Simard said. "Yermo can actually be relied on. I can tell you the relationships with our other local fire departments are improving every day."

Simard said Yermo Fire was never relied on by other local agencies. Now they are running mutual aid calls with the Daggett Fire Department, MCLB Fire Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department and Barstow Fire Protection District, he said.

Yermo firefighters ran on 471 calls for service last year, yet they are on pace to run 700 calls for service this year due to the increase in mutual aid calls.

"This is something we've never done before," Simard said. "Yermo would never leave Yermo. But now we are very aggressive with mutual aid and being good neighbors."

The department currently has a staff of 24 volunteer firefighters and is staffed with at least two people roughly 90 percent of the time, Simard said. That helps with the significant number of calls for service and ensures quicker response times.

The department recently purchased a 1997 emergency E-ONE engine out of Monrovia. Simard said the engine is in "perfect shape" and the only thing wrong was a dud light bulb.

"It was an awesome purchase for the community," Simard said. "The engine has a 500-gallon water tank and can pump 1,500 gallons of water. It's a quality first-run rig that can get to a scene quickly and be relied on to work."

Simard said the department has added Yermo decals to the engine. Next is the insurance process and changing the radio system from a Los Angeles County program to a local program.

Then volunteers can begin the training process.

"We have a great group of volunteers and they are the true backbone of this department," Simard said. "These volunteers really want to learn and serve the community. I enjoy coming to work every day to see these young guys prosper in their jobs. It's going to really take time to build this Fire Department up. The department will never be a paid department but that doesn't mean it could never be a good department."

Earlier this month the Yermo Community Service District was advertising for volunteer fire command staff positions. The positions listed were for fire chief, assistant fire chief and captain. Fire experience was required for the recruitment, which closed Feb. 15.

According to Yearsley, two candidates inquired about the fire chief position, including Simard. A decision is expected within two months.

"(Simard) has done a great job as our chief along with still working his full-time job and having a family," Yearsley said. "Everything he does really speaks volumes (to) his character, work ethic and dedication to serving the community. The department has been brought a long way under him and it seems to be strengthening every day. It's hard to run a department on such a small budget but he is finding ways to make it happen."

Jose Quintero may be reached at 760-955-5332 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @DP_JoseQ.

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