Boat Training

Last month, we hosted a boat training at Lake Sonoma with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, along with Gold Ridge and Sonoma County Fire Districts, joined us to train with various patrol boats, rescue boats, and Sonoma County Fire District's helicopter (SOCO1). The Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District uses its boat for river, lake, and flood rescues. Boat training is crucial for giving our first responders the experience they need to perform rescues.

Cold Sparklers

We were recently asked by a groom-to-be if he could use cold sparklers at his wedding. Cold sparklers are often used indoors or outdoors at special events and can shoot sparks into the air with mimimal smoke or smell. Retailers claim the sparks they emit are cool to the touch, hence the name "cold sparklers".

However, it is important to know that these devices utilize powdered titanium or zirconium to produce sparks. While the heat released from cold sparklers is a lower temperature than standard sparklers, it is still capable of igniting nearby materials.

The California Health and Safety Code classifies ignitable materials containing titanium and zirconium as Dangerous Fireworks. As a reminder, all fireworks are illegal in unincorporated areas of Sonoma County.

The Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District does not issue fireworks permits. If you wish to obtain a permit, contact Permit Sonoma. For more information about fireworks, you can visit Permit Sonoma's Fireworks Regulations for Sonoma County.

Helicopter Bucket Training

Prior to fire season, our firefighters trained with Sonoma County Fire District's helicopter (SOCO1) to prepare for wildfire water drops. This training provided valuable helicopter bucket experience for our firefighters and the pilots.

A helicopter bucket is a special bucket suspended on a cable from a helicopter. The helicopter hovers over a water source and lowers the bucket into the water to fill it. The bucket has a release valve on the bottom controlled by the helicopter crew. When the helicopter is in position, the crew releases the water onto the fire below.

At this training, our firefighters had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the interior and equipment of SOCO1 and learn important safety tips when working around helicopters.

Other helicopters that assist us include Sonoma County Sheriff's Office "Henry 1" and CAL FIRE's helicopter on Bogg's Mountain.