Fire Department

When Chief Samuel Peña was the Training Chief, he decided to make the Certified Fire Journalist credential expire after three years. And because the first Media Academy was held ten years ago, there were about 20 local journalist who had expired credentials. The solution? Offer a four-hour refresher course to renew the certification. Six journalists took EPFD on the offer to continue to get a closer access at incidents. Read More

C.B. Payroll Clerk Raquel Morales has helped hundreds of employees who get activated for military services, either through the reserves or through active duty. But she had such a profound impact on Firefighter Brandon Kovach during his activation, that he nominated her for the Department of Defense Patriotic Employer Award. The award, which she received on Aug. 20, honors employees and/or employers who support the men and women serving in the nation's reserve components. Read More

In an effort to measure UTEP's and local resources' response to an active shooter event, UTEP conducted an Active Shooter Training Event on Aug. 12. The scenario consisted of a shooter in the UTEP library wounding 10 people. Deputy Chief Avelardo Talavera and Lt. Thomas Quinn coordinated EPFD's participation, which involved B-Shift line companies. Deputy Chief Ricci Carson and Battalion Chief Jerry Villanueva were in attendance and Captain Frank Guillen was Incident Commander and Battalion Chief Francisco Gallegos was Safety Officer. Read More

On Thursday Aug. 6, the El Paso Fire Department graduated its first Paramedic Class. A total of 18 firefighters and two lieutenants were honored for completing the grueling, six-month block of instruction. Dr. Veronica L. Greer, assistant professor for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center of El Paso, was the Keynote Speaker. Dr. Greer is also the Director of Residency Program for Emergency Medicine and is Chief-Of-Staff-Elect at University Medical Center. She gave a speech motivating the new paramedics to press on. Read More

On Sunday Aug. 2, hundreds of lifeguards from El Paso Parks and Recreation, the YMCA, the YWCA, Ft. Bliss, the Socorro Aquatics Center, the El Paso Country Club and New Mexico State University descended in droves to Wet N Wild Waterworld (who also sent their lifeguards) to compete in the Annual Christian Castle Lifeguard Olympics. The various lifeguards competed in events like backboard tread, shallow water backboarding, passive submerged victim rescue, rescue board relays, rescue tube relays, obstacle course races and first aid, CPF/AED events. Read More

El Paso, Texas – At approximately 1:41 a.m. on Friday Sept. 11, the El Paso Fire Department was dispatched to the 800 block of San Marcial when the Border Patrol called 911 about a person in the canal. The first unit arrived on the scene at 1:52 a.m. and firefighters were able to spot the person holding on to a rope being held by Border Patrol agents. The Water Rescue team was immediately dispatched.

• Press Release WaterRescue 800 San Marcial 79905

El Paso, Texas – As a reminder, the El Paso Fire Department will be hosting two more informational sessions regarding the proposed Vacant Premises Ordinance today Sept. 10 at the Downtown Main Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The third and final meeting will be Sept. 17 at Fire Department Headquarters Fifth Floor Conference Room from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• VPOMeetings9-10-15

El Paso, Texas – In commemoration of those who lost their lives during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the brave men and women of the El Paso Fire Department, El Paso Police Department and El Paso Sheriff’s Office will pay tribute at a special ceremony at Station 18, 7901 San Jose Rd., on Friday Sept. 11 at 9 a.m.

• 911Ceremony9-9-15

El Paso, Texas – At approximately 9:31 a.m. on Saturday Sept. 5, the El Paso Fire Department was dispatched to Transmountain Dr. when a passerby witnessed a truck drive off the road and called 911. The first unit arrived on the scene at 9:39 a.m. and firefighters were able to spot the vehicle at the bottom of the cliff. Firefighters descended, made contact with a male, approximately 35-40 years old, and immediately began treatment.

• Press Release Special Resue Transmountain 79924

El Paso, Texas – For outstanding service, a distinct group of firefighters, two El Paso Police officers and 12 civilians will be honored in the annual Medal Day Ceremony on Thursday Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. at the Chamizal National Memorial Theater, located at 800 S. San Marcial Street.

• MedalDay9-2-15