Changes Planned with 2020-2021 Budget

Big Bear Lake, CA/June 2, 2020- The Big Bear Fire Authority Board approved a balanced budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year at their June 2, 2020 Board meeting. The approved budget entails significant changes compared to last year’s budget. Since the Community Facilities District (CFD) tax measure was unsuccessful on the March 2020 ballot, some very difficult but necessary budget decisions have been made. Fire Chief Jeff Willis stated, “Honestly, I am disappointed that this critical tax measure that would have provided essential staffing and lifesaving equipment to meet the current day-to-day and future Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Service needs did not have the support of our community. With that being said, I also have great respect as to the outcome of this vote and will strive to continue to provide the highest level and most cost effective Fire Protection and Life-Safety Services that our community counts on every day.”

Significant changes in the 2020-2021 budget include:

• Implementation of a transition plan to replace twelve Firefighter positions with civilian non-safety Ambulance Operator positions. Ambulance Operators will assist on medical calls only. They will not have the training or ability to assist with firefighting, rescue, or any type of hazardous operations. This transition will occur over a two to three-year period through natural attrition from retirements or other created vacancies and will reduce the number of daily on-duty firefighters from thirteen to nine, a 30% reduction. Staffed ambulances will no longer be staffed with Firefighter/Paramedics but will now be staffed by Ambulance Operators.
• Elimination of the seasonal staffing of firefighting apparatus and personnel at the Baldwin Lake Station during the winter months when CAL FIRE is not providing staffing. Instead, one of the three regularly staffed ambulances will be relocated to the Baldwin Lake station during this period.

• Elimination of the seasonal up-staffing of firefighting apparatus and personnel at the Sugarloaf Station during the winter months and other peak periods.

• Elimination of 2.5 civilian administrative staff positions at Headquarters which will have a negative impact on numerous community programs and services.

BBFA Budget 2020-2021 Budget Changes 2-2-2-2-2

It was determined during the budget planning for the 2020-2021 fiscal year that the permanent closing of the Sugarloaf Fire Station would not go far enough to meet budget shortfalls. The governing board’s stated desire to operate with a balanced budget without additional revenue dictated more severe cuts and created a balancing act with tough choices to be made between operational capability and fiscal conservancy.

Overall, it is expected that the financial position of the organization will improve year over year as it moves toward the goal of reducing the Department’s staffing to nine Firefighter/Paramedics and six Ambulance Operators on duty daily.

As the Department transitions to this new operating model, the Department will continue to look for opportunities that allow staffing improvements or changes should they present themselves.

For additional information or questions, please contact the Big Bear Fire Department at (909) 866-7566

Big Bear Lake, CA/April 6, 2020– Big Bear Fire Department personnel are wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) during 911 medical calls for service as a part of their updated safety procedures, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Out of an abundance of safety, you will see our members wearing equipment that include, masks, eye protection, gowns, and gloves, during many patient contacts. We thought it was important to let the public know, that although our appearance might not be typically what you’ve seen in the past, our personnel continue to serve all of you in your time of need. Our new procedures might also include our personnel placing a mask on the patient, when necessary, to reduce transmission potential.

As we all deal with this global pandemic together, the Big Bear Fire Department is working tirelessly to keep our members informed, that they have the proper equipment, and that we continue to update our policies and procedures. All these measures are being done to achieve our top priority which is the safety of our Department personnel and the citizens that we serve.

For additional information or questions, please contact the Big Bear Fire Department at (909) 866-7566. or visit our website at www.bigbearfire.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Big Bear Fire Department

Prescribed burning continuing in Big Bear area of San Bernardino National Forest

Forest Service Fire crews will continue to take advantage of favorable spring weather conditions for more prescribed burning in the Bluff Mesa area southwest of Big Bear Lake, potentially beginning on Thursday, May 21 and continuing through Friday, May 22. The work helps create safe spaces for firefighters to be placed between communities and natural areas should a wildfire occur. This week will be a continuation of a broadcast burn for up to 150 acres located east of Forest Service Road 2N10 and 2N96, on the north side of Bluff Lake and marsh.

Burning will occur only when weather and air quality conditions permit. There will be no closures of nearby trails, roads or yellow post campsites.

Since last Thursday, fire crews have accomplished over 200 acres of fuels reduction in the Bluff Mesa area, making great progress in forest health and community protection. Approximately 1,450 acres have been treated by prescribed fire across the Forest over the past year.

For daily updates on prescribed burning operations, check the Forest's Alerts and Notices web page or Forest's Twitter account (accounts are not required for viewing tweets).

BIG BEAR, CA/April 2, 2020– Big Bear Fire Department has implemented a new emergency text alert notification system that may be used to deliver time sensitive emergency alerts to residents when there is a threat to your health and safety. This system is called “BBFD ALERTS” and these notifications will provide important information during incidents such as wildland fires, hazardous materials incidents, health emergencies, and more. These messages will include information regarding evacuations, Shelter-in-Place Orders, road closures, and other important details.

There will be two types of notifications from “BBFD ALERTS” to provide information to our communities: ALERT- Highest priority notification that is considered the most urgent; and ADVISORY- An informational or educational type of notification.

It is important for residents not to rely on BBFD ALERTS notifications as their only means of emergency information. The system should be used in conjunction with other information provided by the media, directions given by first responders, and other information posted on official city, county, and government websites/social media.

The BBFD Alert System will work for any device that has a phone number and that can receive standard text messages such as cell phones and other. There is no cost to register to join “BBFD ALERTS” but keep in mind that text messaging charges may apply and BBFD is not responsible for any charges that may be incurred as a result of receiving these text alerts.

To subscribe to “BBFD ALERTS”, text the words “opt in” to (218) 350-0268. You may unsubscribe by texting the words “opt out” at any time.

Or Click here to text us from your phone!

Note: All phone numbers provided to subscribe to the system will be kept strictly confidential.

For additional information please contact the Big Bear Fire Department at www.bigbearfire.org or (909) 866-7566.