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Santa Paula Fire Reserves (left to right) Cesar Cervantes, Jason Gates, Gary Braun, Derek Doler, Michael Lomonaco and Justin Washington received their badges and were lauded by the City Council at the November 17 meeting.
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Santa Paula Fire Reserves, Engineer
welcomed by City Council
December 10, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Six Santa Paula Firefighter Reserves and one full-timer recently promoted to engineer were lauded by the City Council at the November 17 meeting.
Mayor Rick Cook noted family members and friends of those being pinned were welcome to take photos to commemorate the occasion: “It’s something to be proud of and as mayor and a resident of Santa Paula Fire,” Cook said he appreciates their service.
And, as a former Santa Paula Police Officer Cook said he knows the demands of public safety work “And how it takes a lot from the family... “
Fire Chief Rick Araiza said the ceremonial pinning of the badge marks the one-year anniversary that the reserves have been with the department. He told the council most reserves go through the fire academy and after joining the SPFD receive ongoing training. Reserves also fill shifts to keep Station 1 and Station 2 functional with full personnel.
Araiza said Firefighter David Leon, “Went from being a reserve to a firefighter to engineer when he recently took the test and was promoted.”
Leon, he added, has lived in Santa Paula for 20 years but has been an area resident his entire life.
“Don’t forget where you came from,” said Cook after Leon’s wife Evelyn pinned his SPFD badge to his uniform.
“You started as a volunteer reserve,” and now an engineer, and Cook said, “Look forward to your future.”
Next up for the pinning ceremony were Santa Paula Fire Reserves Gary Braun, Cesar Cervantes, Derek Doler, Jason Gates, Michael Lomonaco and Justin Washington, each who was pinned by a family member.
Cook noted when he joined the Santa Paula Police Department in 1972 the Santa Paula Fire Department “was all volunteers,” that did a good job whenever called upon.
“I want to thank you and your families for their support,” said Councilman Martin Hernandez.
“I can’t think of a more honorable profession than putting your life on the line,” whether to protect life or property.
Cook asked Araiza how many of the new reserves attended the fire academy.
Araiza said “Five of the six,” can get signed off for fire academy and all reserves go through levels of evaluation including peer reviews.
