Personnel

The Fire District consists of 20 Career Employees and a fluctuating number (approximately 30) of Volunteer Firefighters.

The ranks are structured as follows:
 
Fire Chief
John McFarland
 
Administrative Assistant/Clerk of the Board
Sally Lindke
 
Assistant Chief / Fire Marshal
Desmond Cowan
 
Assistant Chief / Operations
Justin McDonald
 
Battalion Chief / Training
Open
 
Fire Captains
Jon Busher
Sean Campbell
Jesse Cummings
Alan Davis
Rick Gomes
Curt Watkins
Dave White - Retired Fire Chief
  
Fire Apparatus Engineers
Bruce Anfinson
Angie Dernedde
Kevin Pelascini
Alex Manousos
Nate Padula
Jonathan Finen
Ross McDonald
 
Apparatus Operators
John Evenson
Chad Gurney
Daniel Willson
Gary Savona
 
Fire Fighters
Jeffrey Allender
Keith Altizer
Bert Bartlett
Matt Busher
Rob Cannon
Paddy Cavanagh
Jonathan Karp
Dennis Lindstrom
James Stewart
Jeff Schwartz
Kirsten Mann
Jake Elkins
Marcus Lillard
Stephen Carmichael
 
Probationary Firefighters
Luke Patel
Scott Gordinier
Sean O'Connell
Erik Tedsen
Ryan Wimmer
Chris Wolf
Jordan Zeidler
 
Support Fire Fighters
Arly Allen
Tony Rutten
Dave Goodman
John Roberson
Jason Davi
John Radley
 
DUTIES

The Fire Chief is hired by the District Board of Directors and conducts administrative and personnel duties. He interacts with other governing agencies and the public to provide the best fire protection possible to our Fire District communities. The Fire Chief provides District wide duty coverage on a rotating basis. Duty coverage consists of: Incident Command during emergencies, personnel management, and department wide response to calls for assistance and handle public complaints among other duties.

The Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal is appointed by the Fire Chief and conducts fire prevention, code enforcement, public education, and inspection duties. He provides plan check services for new construction and remodeling activities and answers questions regarding Fire Code, Building Code, and Health and Safety Code issues. The Assistant Chief provides District wide duty coverage on a rotating basis.

The Battalion Chiefs are responsible for the operations and functions of the department and the training of firefighters and community members on an annual basis. The Battalion Chiefs provides District wide duty coverage on a rotating basis. They also work 24-hour shifts on an engine when Fire Captains are not available.

The Fire Captains are the backbone of the department. They determine firefighting strategy and tactics while supervising personnel and performing emergency duties. They are the front line Officers that have the greatest interaction with the public we serve.

The Firefighters are the hands-on group that gets the jobs done. They handle the hose lines, operate the tools and perform all the basic functions required achieve our objectives and protect the community.

Our Support Personnel assist with air supply, rehabilitation of Firefighters during emergencies, shuttle supplies and personnel, and perform other duties when required. They do not put themselves in harms way and wear no protective equipment.

The Administrative Assistant performs the budget activities, payroll, oversees employee enhancement programs, scheduling, and acts as the Clerk to the District Board among other duties. This position is a vital component of all internal district functions.

 

Site © AFPD, 2011


Photo content © AFPD & Thinkstock

Site design: Precision Intermedia

Emergencies

Dial 9-1-1
Reasons To Call Us
How To Help Yourself

AVFD Store

Currently, purchases are only
available at the Arcata Fire
Station, 631 9th St., Arcata.  
Mail orders may be available
soon.