Shared Chief Cost-Effective for Loma Linda/Colton

Tight budgetary times have inspired the Colton and Loma Linda fire departments to create a plan to share battalion chiefs to supervise crews from both departments.

This would be the second resource the cities have in common. Both already employ Debra Kreske, emergency services coordinator.

The battalion chief arrangement is “really to take advantage of some efficiencies and redeploy battalion chief resources, people who are dedicated to platoon shift schedules and move them to a 40-hour schedule,” said Loma Linda Fire Chief Jeffrey Bender.

If implemented, the system would allow the Loma Linda and Colton chiefs to move a battalion chief onto a 40-hour week schedule. A Colton chief would be in charge of early week day shift A while a Loma Linda chief would supervise the mid-week B shift. The third shift will not be affected.

Each will respond to calls in both cities and will also be in charge of handling administrative duties such as scheduling training, said Colton Fire Chief Tom Hendrix.

“Right now the battalion chief’s responsibilities are primarily operations oriented,” Hendrix said. “And both of our department’s need additional administrative support personnel.”

The Loma Linda City Council approved the plan Oct. 11. Colton Fire Chief Tom Hendrix plans to present the finalized plan to Colton’s City Council on Nov. 15. He hopes to have it in place no more than two weeks after it gets approval from the Colton City Council.

Budgets are tight for both city-run fire departments. Loma Linda was forced to make layoffs to balance its budget. Colton also had to make cuts and close one of its four stations on a rotating basis.