To some, becoming a firefighter is a lifelong dream, to others; it is what their fathers and grandfathers did.  Some love the heart-pounding adrenaline when fighting the flames, and some live for the desire to help others.   Regardless the reason, there is a sense of camaraderie amongst firefighters, a bond they all share.  
And sometimes those bonds are even closer than the career they share.  In fact, in some cases, the bond goes way back…way back to the womb.
Meet Los Angeles City Firefighters and Santa Clarita residents Mike, Paul and David Finger.  Only five to seven minutes separate these identical triplets as the brothers made their entrance into the world. “We were expecting twins,” states mother Darlene Finger.  “We had no idea about baby number three (Paul) until we got to the delivery table!”
Thirty-two years later, they are only fire stations apart.  
Just as they share the same birthdate, they too share the same day they became firefighters.  “It’s not very common, but we all got hired in on the same day, February 19, 2002, to be exact, to work for the Los Angeles City Fire Department,” states Mike.  “Our applications were submitted together, and we ended up being in the same class and the same drill tower.”  The triplets gained some notoriety as the department’s graduation was televised. “We remember the day they graduated,” says parents Roland and Darlene.  “We are so extremely proud of all of their accomplishments and who they are as individuals.”
The brothers currently work for Los Angeles City Fire Department, each at different stations.  David, the oldest, is at Fire Station 107 serving the Chatsworth area, Mike at Fire Station 88 serving the Sherman Oaks area, and the youngest, Paul, at Fire Station 89, serving North Hollywood.  “As far as working together, we can trade shifts to be at the same station, we just can’t be on the same shift,” states Mike.   
The triplets grew up in West Los Angeles near the Santa Monica airport and resided there until they married and moved to the SCV.  Growing up, they were mischievous boys, always finding themselves in some kind of a predicament.  David, Mike and Paul have an older sister, Carey, who also calls Santa Clarita, ‘home’.  Rather than following in her brothers’ footsteps fighting fires, Carey is an elementary school teacher for the Castaic Unified School District.  While she may not battle the blazes, she leads the way for our future heroes through education.
On any given day when they are off duty, you can find the brothers outdoors.  “We love to fish and hunt,” states Mike.  “David loves to wakeboard and Paul likes to scuba dive. We love the outdoors.”  
Why did the brothers decide to serve for the City of Los Angeles?  “We’re the ones you can count on when you need help.  There’s no greater feeling knowing that.”

Fire Safety

The Santa Clarita Valley is served by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. As the temperatures rises, so too do the amount of fires.  The LACoFD has provided information from the READY SET GO campaign, which is supported by nine fire agencies and their respective fire chiefs.  

READY! SET! GO!
Create a Defensible Space Around Your Home
Defensible space is the area around your home this is free of flammable plants and objects. This space is wide enough that it will help protect your home from flames and heat.
Get READY…Get in the Zone!
Proper fuel modification helps protect your property and neighborhoods by guiding you when selecting plants and landscaping and the best zones to place them in when planting.
Learn How to “Harden” Your Home
Embers from a wildfire may find the weak link in your home’s construction. Some steps you can take to “harden” your home from the threat of wildfire include, fire resistant roof, blocking spaces and vents to prevent embers from intruding, ensure trees are far away from power lines, install dual-paned glass with exterior tempered glass as heat from a wildfire can cause windows to break before the home ignites.
Get SET – Prepare Your Family
Create and rehearse a family disaster plan that includes meeting locations and communications plan. Plan several escape routes. Make sure your family know where the gas, electric and water main shut-off controls are and how to use them. Assemble an emergency supply kit for your home and car.
GO Early – Don’t Hesitate!
By leaving early, you will protect your family and also help County firefighters by keeping the roads clear. Keep the Six “P’s” ready for immediate evacuation: Pets and people, Papers and documents, Prescriptions and eyeglasses, Pictures and special memorabilia, Personal computers, and “Plastic” – credit cards and cash.
To get a copy of the complete READY! SET! GO! plan, visit your local Los Angeles County Fire Station or download a copy from www.fire.lacounty.gov.

Pool Safety

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children under 5-years-old

A message from Los Angeles County
Assistant Fire Chief Bill Niccum…

All too frequently, a child will die in a drowning accident. Typically, these tragedies occur during the hot summer months, in backyard swimming pools or community pools. And typically many adults are nearby and do not see a child struggling in the water or lying at the bottom of the pool.  
This could happen to you or someone in your family. You may believe that children who drown had parents who were inattentive or negligent. This could not be further from the truth. Most drowning accidents occur in families with loving and conscientious parents, caregivers, grandparents or other adult’s just feet away. How does this happen?
Drowning takes only a couple of minutes. When children fall into a pool or wander into a deeper area of the pool, they will struggle for just a few seconds and then they go under. There is typically no noise. No cry for help. No splashing. In a matter of seconds and minutes, it is too late. What can you do?
Many people make the mistake of assuming that if other adults are in the pool and around the pool there is safety. This is not true. Children often drown with numerous adults only a few feet away. Even if you do not have responsibility for children near the water, you can actively keep watch.
Will you join with the Los Angeles County Fire Department to do your part to help promote pool safety in the Santa Clarita Valley?

Warmly,
Assistant Chief Bill Niccum

Follow these other safety tips and contact these agencies for assistance:
•    Pools should be isolated by several layers of protection including proper fencing, alarms, locks, latches and pool covers.
•    All adults should learn CPR.
•    Install a working phone outside near the pool area
•    If you must leave the pool area, even for a few seconds, require all children to exit the pool.
•    Children should wear life-jackets (not floaties or other inflatable devices).
•    All children should have swimming lessons