Fire Department Badge Pinning Ceremony - January 26 2018

Article Source: Robert Riechel

On January 26 2018, the San Bruno CA Fire Department announced the promotions of 10 fire department employees.

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L: San Bruno Mayor Rico E. Medina

R: San Bruno Chief of Police Barberini

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San Bruno CA Fire Chief Dave Cresta

Fire Chief opened the event with a few words and then introduced San Bruno CA Mayor Rico E. Medina.

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Mayor Medina reviewed some of his recollections of his interactions with

the fire department. He stated he was honored to be part of the City leadership

that supports the fire department and he knows that the citizens of San Bruno

will continue to receive 1st class fire department response.

He then introduced San Bruno CA

City Manager Connie Jackson

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City Manager Jackson reviewed Chief Crestra's accomplishments and

then installed him as the new Fire Chief

Fire Chief Cresta began the installation with the following:

Batallion Chiefs

Mike Kennedy

Mike Kennedy is a 23 year veteran of the San Bruno Fire Department. He was promoted to fire captain in 2011. He has been engaged in many department programs and activities. Early on in his career, Mike demonstrated a mechanical aptitude which made him a valuable asset as a fire mechanic. After he was promoted, he began to serve the mechanic bureau in a management or advisory role. He also was the chair of the apparatus committee that purchased the last two new fire engines and ladder truck.

Bill Forester

Bill Forester is a 24 year veteran of the San Bruno Fire Department. He was promoted to fire captain in 2000. He was assigned as an interim battalion chief for six months earlier this year. Throughout his career he has been engaged in many department programs and activities. For the past several years, Bill has managed our Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program. This is a very important duty as there are many standards that need to be met regarding safety equipment. Additionally, the fire service has recognized the increased risk of cancer for firefighters and the San Mateo County Fire Chiefs are working aggressively to identify prevention measures.

Fire Captains

Sean Berube

Sean Berube is a 19 year fire service veteran who has spent the last 15 years with the San Bruno Fire Department. He has served as a paramedic, engineer/operator, truck qualified operator, acting captain and interim captain. In 2014 he developed a relationship with the NCTI Paramedic Program to allow San Bruno to host students as paramedic interns. This program allowed us to certify some of our recently hired paramedics. It also allows us to evaluate future firefighter candidates.

Tyler Charles

Tyler Charles is a 9 year fire service veteran with the last 5 of those years with the San Bruno Fire Department. He came to us from the Camp Parks Fire Department. Additionally, he is a Master Seargent in the Air Force serving as the Assistant Chief of Operations for the 904th Fire Department. During his time with the department he has served as an engineer/operator, paramedic, and truck qualified operator and interim captain. Recently he has been certified as a State Fire Marshall Certified Instructor, which has allowed him to assist the training division and recruit academy during live fire operations.

Nick Olivera

Nick Olivera is a 9 year fire service veteran with the San Bruno Fire Department. During his time with the department he has served as an engineer/operator, paramedic, and truck qualified operator and acting captain. For the past several years, Nick has managed the CPR Program. During his tenure, he has managed the purchase of new equipment and expanded the program to provide CPR classes for members of the public on a quarterly basis. He also worked to start the Firefighter For A Day Program here in San Bruno. In August, twenty 5th grade students from San Bruno schools participated in a day camp at the fire department.

Firefighters

Gabe Richardson

Gabe Richardson was raised in South San Francisco and graduated from El Camino High School in South San Francisco. He attended the College of San Mateo where he majored in Fire Science and completed his EMT certification. In 2016, Mr. Richardson completed a yearlong internship with the San Bruno Fire Department. In December Gabe graduated from the San Mateo County Fire academy. Gabe won the Physical Fitness and Top Gun Award in the academy.

Tim Wetteland

Tim Wetteland was raised in San Mateo and graduated from Junipero Serra High School. He attended Sonoma State University and has a BS Degree in Kinesiology. He was hired as a firefighter paramedic for the Millbrae Fire Department in 2005. During his career in Millbrae and CCFD, Mr. Wetteland has developed a skill set that will benefit our department. He is a county accredited paramedic CERT Program AND State Fire Instructor. Additionally he has seven years’ experience working as an acting captain.

Jeremy Whiteaker

Jeremy Whiteaker was raised in Fresno and graduated from Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto. He served in the United States Air Force from 2000 to 2004 and received an honorable discharge at the end of his term. His reserve status expired in 2008. He attended Napa Valley College and Modesto Junior College. Jeremy comes to us from the Camp Parks Fire Department, where he served as a paramedic firefighter since 2005. Jeremy has hit the ground running by working on a program with Red Cross to distribute and install smoke detectors to San Bruno residents in April.

Gage Schlice

Gage Schlice was raised in Westminster CA and graduated from Murrieta High School. He received an Associate of Arts degree in Fire Technology from Palomar College in San Marcos, CA. Gage comes to us from the Petaluma Fire Department, where he served as firefighter since 2011. Prior to that, he served as a firefighter for the California Department of Forester from 2004 until 2011. Mr. Schlice is not a paramedic, however he has worked as an EMT on Petaluma’s paramedic. Mr. Gage possess skills that will benefit the department including, information technology skills and grant writing.

ABOVE courtesy of Rico E. Medina

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Robert Riechel

E=Mail: SanBrunoPatch.Robert@Yahoo.com

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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: San Bruno Patch Contributor Robert Riechel

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