



Mountain Disaster Preparedness training a reality check
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For the first time in a drill conducted by Mountain Disaster Preparedness (MDP), the Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) committed its resources to the simulated event. IFPD Firefighters Bryan Owen, left, and Greg Minor, right, transport an injured resident, portrayed by Betty Anderson, to the fire station where MDP Medical Core Nurse Gigi Kramer immediately checks paperwork prior to treating her. Photos by Cid Castillo




Former Fire Chief Dave Driscoll made a presentation about the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy to the Mountain Area Safety Taskforce last week. When the U.S. Congress passed the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement (FLAME) Act of 2009, a provision in the law mandated the development of a national, cohesive, wildland fire management…
Two new faces will join the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission in December. Nancy Layton, the leading vote getter, and Rhonda Andrewson will join incumbent Commission President Jeannine Charles-Stigall on the Commission. Only 22 votes separated the top three candidates. The fourth candidate, former Fire Chief Steve Kunkle finished a distant fourth, 64 votes behind…
The San Jacinto Mountains’ Community Wildfire Protection Plan was the topic at the May 8 Mountain Emergency Services Committee meeting. “It’s a huge community impact and is not done by the [fire or forest] agencies,” stressed Kathleen Henderson, Riverside County emergency services coordinator for the mountain. Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council Executive Director Edwina Scott…
The Idyllwild Fire Department is in discussions with the city of San Jacinto to provide fire and emergency medical services to the city. Currently, Riverside County Fire Department provides these services to San Jacinto.
Fern Valley Water District (FVWD) directors approved a progress payment of $217,000 for El-Co Contractors, the firm installing 3,000 feet of water pipeline. General Manager Steve Erler provided the board with a summary of the work and payment from Aug. 1 through Sept. 9. “The contractor is performing the work on a time and material…
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) Board of Commissioners appointed Daniel Messina, in a 3-1 vote, to the board. Commissioner Christina Reitz voted to appoint Idyllwild Community Center Board President Stephanie Yost.In addition to Messina, David Cutter and Yost applied for the vacancy. Messina was first appointed June 30, 2020 to fill the vacancy left…