By Neil Farrell
The City of Morro Bay is advertising for a new fire captain after the recent retirement of a long-time member of the crew.
Capt. Jeff Olson retired on July 31 after nearly 30 years with the City, first as a reservist in December 1985, then a full time firefighter in 1987, promoting to engineer in 1988 paramedic in 1992, and being promoted to captain in September 2004.
In the job posting, which has a deadline of Thursday, Aug. 20, the pay is listed at $6,151 to $7,379 a month including $450/mo. paramedic incentive. The normal benefits accompany the job — health, life, retirement — with the retirement for a new person from outside the department getting “3% at 55” or 3% of the highest year’s salary, times number of years of service, retirement eligible at 55-years old.
A promotion from within would get 3% at 50.
The job description sounds hard, and specialized. “The successful candidate will supervise and participate in fire suppression and prevention activities on an assigned shift; administer a comprehensive program of in-service training; and supervise subordinate personnel engaged in fire fighting, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, technical rescue, ocean and surf rescues and mutual aid incidents.”
The job has its somewhat mundane parts too. “The successful candidate will also supervise the maintenance and repair of fire stations, fire apparatus and equipment; conduct training drills and classes; comply with national and local safety mandates; inspect, evaluate, and discipline subordinates; maintain records of responses, fire prevention inspections, investigations and related activities; manage special projects; may perform as Acting Chief in the Chief’s absence; and, perform other duties as assigned.”
The newest captain, Todd Gailey, was promoted from within. Fire Chief Steve Knuckles named Engineer Michael Talmadge as Interim Captain until the position is filled.
That was expected to be mid-August, but Chief Knuckles has been away at the Mad River Complex fire in Northern California leading a strike team for more than a week.
As the department head, the hiring decision would be his, and of course include help from City Hall. Applicants who get past the application review, will be asked to participate in a written test on Aug. 25, with an assessment on Aug. 27, reads the City job posting.
But the job entails more in a small community like this, including educating children, raising money and awareness for burn victims and countless other tasks. For sure, it’s a busy job. But there is that new firehouse with the million dollar views of town and the Rock, a modern facility that will house the department and protect the community for generations to come.
MBFD has just 12.5 full time firefighter positions and 20 reservists. With training, mutual aids, vacation and such, each shift could require at least one reserve to step in to fill out an engine crew. The reserves train alongside the full time crew and must take training like EMT or paramedic. All of the firefighters — engineers and captains too — must be certified paramedics. Now-retired Capt. Olson became an EMT in 1987 and a paramedic in ’92.
MBFD has three engines, a paramedic truck and a 75-foot ladder truck, which is practically brand new.
Capt. Olson declined to do an exit interview with The Bay News, preferring to go quietly into that good night… or something of the sort. That’s not a surprise for a man who has quietly gone about his duties, saving countless lives over the years as a paramedic and first responder.
This reporter will attest to Jeff’s professionalism, dedication to the job, his crew and the community, as well as a love of nature and surfing. I will fondly recall him snarling displeasure when the camera focused on him at the scene of an emergency. (He’d apparently been the victim of the old tradition of buying the crew ice cream if you appeared in the newspaper.)
The Bay News wishes him a good long retirement filled with adventure and good times. Thank you Capt. Olson, from everyone.
