A new tone was broadcast on the Ventura County Fire Communications Center, and a dispatcher hailed the newest member of its dispatch service team. “Ventura County Fire Communications would like to welcome aboard Santa Paula Fire Department to the Fire Communications Center and looks forward to providing services to you. Thank you.”“Copy,” said SPFD Captain Campos.SPPD Reserve Officer Randolph, Dispatcher Dawne Koranda and SPFD Acting Assistant Chief Jerry Byrum wrote the last dispatch for the City of Santa Paula. SPPD dispatch will remain with the city; residents will still dial 911 and get the local dispatch for fire services, and the calls will be transferred to the county and monitored locally.So now scanner owners throughout the city will have to remember the new SPFD designation meaning that a fire or emergency call is stemming from Santa Paula: “Engine 81,” said SPFD Captain Dan Campos, the number of the city’s newest fire engine. “We’re just called Engine 81. . .the county defines sectors of response by the number of the engine company.”The last time there was a major change effecting local fire fighting was in the mid-1990s when “Shrieking Sam,” the department’s piercing siren located at Station One on South 10th Street, was silenced after decades of summoning paid-call volunteers to the station to respond to emergencies.
Tone test silenced: End of an era as SPFD dispatch transferred to VCFPS
July 19, 2002
Santa Paula News
It was the end of an era when the final “Tone Test” for the Santa Paula Fire Department was sounded on Wednesday at 8 a.m., marking the launch of a joint partnership with the Ventura County Fire Protection Services central dispatch.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesIt was the end of an era when the final “Tone Test” for the Santa Paula Fire Department was sounded on Wednesday at 8 a.m., marking the launch of a joint partnership with the Ventura County Fire Protection Services central dispatch.The test offered a poignant note to the mornings of scanner owners, who closely monitor SPFD calls.“Santa Paula Engine 81 and Santa Paula Police-Fire units, standby for final tone test. This will be the final tone test with the Santa Paula Fire Department from Station 4,” announced SPPD Reserve Officer-Dispatcher Rich Randolph at 8 a.m. - 0800 hours in dispatch speak - sharp. “The Santa Paula police and fire communications center has been handling fire emergencies since 1949, dispatching over 32,000 calls for service. With the increase in technology and to provide increased services to the community of Santa Paula, dispatch services for the Santa Paula Fire Department will be transferred to the Ventura County Fire Department Fire Communications Center, after this transmission. On behalf of the communications staff of the Santa Paula Police-Fire center, we will miss you and look forward to continuing our efforts to provide the highest level of service to the citizens of Santa Paula,” said SPPD Reserve Officer Randolph. “Engine 81, please transfer to Ventura County Communications Channel One for your new tone designation.”Reserve Officer Randolph then noted: “KTE678, WNHN836. . .signing off.”“Thank you Station 4,” replied SPFD Captain Dan Campos.
