Benjamin Franklin quipped, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” But nothing could have prepared Officer Amada Galaviz for what she would encounter on Sept. 16, 2009, as she left the station, eager to take on any presenting opportunity. A sworn offi- cer since January, Galaviz was green, but with a strong desire to learn. Little did she know that within minutes, she would be delivering a baby in the front seat of a car. “I had just logged on and was leaving the station to go start my shift. I pulled out and saw a vehicle getting off of 99 and Stanislaus, flagging me down. A Spanish-speaking man (in his car) approached my vehicle,” Galaviz said.

“I knew he needed help, so I asked him to pull over. He got out of his car and ran to the passenger side; he showed me that his wife was in labor. She was obviously too far along to make it to the hospital, so I called for EMS.”

Fernando Gonzalez and his wife, Olga, who had been in labor for merely an hour, were driving from their home in Kerman to Com- munity Regional Medical Center. As his wife’s labor pains increased, fear overtook Fernando, rendering him disoriented on the unfamiliar streets of Fresno.

“I was in the delivery room with my sister, so I have an idea of what labor looks like. Olga was panting, and I was trying to help her breathe,” recalled Galaviz. “She kept feeling her thighs, and I got the impression she was trying to tell her husband her water broke.”

Within the three to five minutes that Galaviz was with the labor- ing woman, the situation had taken a sharp turn. Galaviz’s job descrip- tion as police officer suddenly included the title of midwife.

Fernando “pulled down her pants and the baby was crowning. Obviously the baby was not going to wait. She pushed and the baby came out. A film was wrapped around the baby’s face, so I moved it out of the way, and she started to cry. I unwrapped the umbilical cord, which was wound around her neck, and placed her on the mother’s stomach.”

Instantly, EMS was on scene, relieving Galaviz from midwife duty.

“It all happened so fast,” said Galaviz. “I was so nervous—if instincts didn’t kick in, if the baby didn’t start to breathe…”

Police academy training focuses more upon saving lives, first aid, and CPR. Training on delivering babies is minimal.

Galaviz washed up and, translator in tow, made her way to the hospital, where she close the baby she’d just delivered—a healthy 7-lb., 19.8-inch baby girl named Valeria.

Be Prepared on the Roadway

Getting caught up in an emergency on the road can create an immedi- ate flurry of confusion. Here are a few tips for enlisting the help of police on the roadway:

• Never pull into the center divider. Always pull over to the right, prefer- ably on a wide shoulder. • Find the safest location away from traffic.

Turn on hazard lights and raise the car’s hood to attract the attention of police.

• Get out of the car and away from traffic, if possible. Many cars are rear-ended while parked on the side of the road. Waiting up on an embankment or on the sidewalk is the best option.

• If waiting in the car is the only option, stay seat belted to be better prepared for a rear-end or side-swipe collision.

• Most people only note their location every thirty minutes, and a great distance can be covered in the interim. While driving, always keep your location in the back of your mind. A law enforcement officer can’t find you quickly if you don’t know your location when calling 911.

• People are less threatened and more likely to call 911 by hearing someone yell “Fire.” If you are being assaulted, yelling “fire” is your best bet for capturing the immediate attention of those around you.

• Consider taking a CPR class to be prepared in case of an emergency. Call American Ambulance at 559.269.3265 for more information on classes.

Winter travel in the Central Valley can mean a number of things. Because of the Valley’s close proximity to mountains, winter means play in the snow, but it also brings the thick fog that clouds the roads in the Valley. There are dangers with both mountain and val-

ley driving, but with some preparation, drivers can be safe this season.

Mountain Driving

We love to pack our vehicles and venture into the mountains for a day of hiking, skiing, or recreation. However, many drivers are completely unprepared for road conditions and hazards.

At higher elevations, the roads can become covered in snow and ice, making travel difficult or impossible. Because of this, the California Highway Patrol encourages drivers to check their tires and “make sure they are properly inflated and that the tread is in good condition.”

When traveling in snowy conditions, drivers need to carry chains in their vehicles. Depending on the vehicle, these chains can fit on either the front or back tires, making it possible to drive over snow-covered roads. Chains are one of the most important tools during winter travel, so the CHP requires that drivers “stop and put on chains when highway signs indicate that chains are required.”

Chains are not useful if you don’t know how to put them on. The CHP encourages drivers to practice putting on their chains during good weather, so that the first attempt is not on a snowy mountain pass.

“You can be cited by the California Highway Patrol for not using chains. You usually have about a mile between a Chains Required sign and a CHP checkpoint to install your chains,” according to the CHP’s

web page on winter travel. What happens, though, if you remember your chains and how to

install them, but the weather suddenly changes? At higher elevations, this is a common occurrence, leaving drivers stranded on the side of the road without a way back down. If this occurs, do not panic, the CHP advises.

“Take along water, food, blankets, and extra clothing. If you are delayed for a long period of time, these items may become a necessity.” Also, it would be wise to carry a shovel, a broom and a bag of sand; these may sound like strange items to carry in your car, but the broom can be used to brush off the windows, the shovel can be used to dig away excess snow after a lengthy delay, and the sand “provides

traction if your wheels become stuck in the snow.” The California Highway Patrol has responded to numerous calls of

unprepared drivers who have gotten into trouble on wintry roads. Whether or not you encounter a worst-case scenario, the most important thing to remember, according to the CHP website, is to use

common sense. “Slow down,” the website warns. “The posted speed limit is

meant for dry conditions, but when the roads are covered in snow and ice, driving the speed limit can be dangerous. Leave a larger distance between you and the other car. You don’t want to slam on your brakes, which can cause your vehicle to spin.”

This is especially true when the roads are covered in black ice, which is not immediately noticeable. If your car hits a patch of black ice, your chances of sliding increase dramatically. If this happens to you, stay calm. Do not try to overcorrect the spin; instead, take your foot off

the gas pedal and complete the spin. There is no guarantee that once your car starts spinning you will be able to navigate without causing an accident, but slamming the brakes and trying to correct the spin will only exacerbate the problem.

Valley Driving

Of course, winter driving is not only limited to snowy roads and mountain terrain. The Valley can be a dangerous place to drive as well, because many drivers underestimate the hazardous conditions on the freeways and roads.

Although the Central Valley is arid, during the winter months there are rainy days. Because drivers spend the majority of the year driving in dry conditions, this sudden change can be dangerous.

When it first begins to rain, the CHP warns, the roads will be slick. When the rain combines with oil and dirt on the street, tires lose trac- tion. Unlike black ice or snow, these slick spots won’t necessarily cause drivers to slide, but braking will become increasingly difficult and drivers may fishtail or spin if they drive too quickly. Again, use common sense. Allow extra time when taking a trip. Drive more slowly than the posted speed limit. Leave an extra car-length between vehicles.

During heavy rainfall, drivers should leave even more room between vehicles. Visibility can be affected, even if you have new windshield wipers—which are essential. Also, if a vehicle is moving too quickly over water-covered roads, hydroplaning—skimming along the surface of the road without traction—becomes a distinct possibility.

The Central Valley also has its own brand of hazardous winter weather: fog. Fog has been responsible for numerous crashes on roads and highways in the Valley. In November 2007, fog was the primary cause of a 100-car pile-up just south of Fresno that resulted in the deaths of two people.

When the fog settles in, visibility drops anywhere from a few hun- dred yards to a foot. This makes driving incredibly dangerous, which is why it is critical that drivers follow certain rules while out on the road.

The CHP advises drivers to slow down and use their low beams rather than high beams. High beams only reflect off the fog, creating a white wall.

“Keep an eye on your speedometer. When you’re driving in fog, most of the time you’re staring at the road and don’t pay attention to your speed. Also, the fog can give you the impression that you’re driving in slow-motion.”

The CHP has taken a number of steps to ensure driver safety dur- ing the winter season. Pace cars are often deployed along the freeways, guiding drivers safely along particularly hazardous stretches of road. Additionally, the CHP and CalTrans have developed the Fog Pilot Pro- gram, a system of weather and traffic sensors, cameras and signs that alert drivers to dense fog areas. The hope is that this new program will reduce the number of collisions that result from heavy fog conditions.

Even with new technology, chains, and CHP oversight, the key to safe winter travel will always remain with the drivers themselves. According to the CHP, if there is one important rule to follow this winter season, it is this: Slow down and reach your destination safely.

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BY KELLIE PALMER

The holidays are upon us. Everyone is out and about shopping for that perfect gift for their loved ones. While we all might be feeling extra festive or even more stressed this time of year we can’t forget that we need to be extra careful! This time of the year not only brings out families, shoppers, and carolers, it also brings out more criminals. That’s why the Fresno Police Depart- ment came up with Operation Christmas Presence to minimize holiday crimes where large number of citizens do their holiday shopping. Operation Christmas Presence was started around 12 years ago—and the FPD has seen a dramatic decrease in vehicle burglary and robbery reports. The project kicked off the day after Thanksgiving when people really started shopping, and runs through Christmas Eve. More than 200 officers, civilian personnel and volunteers from

Fresno Police Department (uniformed and plain-clothes officers), Traffic Enforcement Unit, Bicycle Officers, Skywatch, Mounted Unit,

Police Cadets, and Reserves & Citizens on Patrol go to high traffic shop- ping centers throughout the city of Fresno and keep a look-out by foot, bicycle or through the business’ outside cameras. River Park, Manchester, Fashion Fair, Fulton Mall, the West Shaw area, and some Wal-Marts are patrolled. The Fresno Police Department encourages everyone to keep a look out and report any suspicious activ- ity while shopping. Watch out for cars circling the parking lot and not going into a space or people looking into cars.

The police department also recommends prevention measures, which include: always keeping bags of purchased gifts in your trunk, not in open view to tempt someone to break into your car; shopping with a friend or family member; and shopping during the day. If that isn’t possible, ask a security guard to walk you out to your car if you don’t feel safe. There are plenty of ways to keep yourself safe. Even so, you can rest assured that while you are out shopping there are plenty of officers or volunteers keeping their eyes open for any criminal activity and keeping you safe!

Setting out for a Central California sightseeing Sunday drive with no particular destination in mind, Jarrod and Jennifer Hanson left their modest new home near the Kings River, entertaining Jennifer’s elderly mother, Carol Taylor, on her first visit to California following the arrival of their first baby, born three months earlier. A lifelong flatlander, Carol suggested a spontaneous excursion to the foothills, visible so close by. From the Valley, the view magnetized her, seeming to Carol impossibly majestic as they towered to well over 14,000 feet.

Why not go along and make his mother-in-law’s day, possibly her whole trip, Jarrod thought.

Jennifer didn’t want to seem like the over-fretful new mom, but she was less enthusiastic, nervous by nature in unfamiliar settings.

Not wanting to disappoint the others, Jennifer consented. The whole round trip would just take a couple of hours at most, she rationalized. And having her veteran mom along for advice with her new baby, Kylie, Jennifer had ample confidence for what was the baby’s first road trip beyond their routine jaunts to the market or visits to her pediatrician.

Now in her mid-70s, the thin and energetic Carol, a small business owner, had traveled little over the years. For the moment, however, she was footloose and feeling glad to be away from the Plains State for the first time in a long time.

Unfortunately, Jarrod’s GPS device offered more confidence than accurate information as the group wended higher into the hills. Some roads that were prompted by the device proved phantom, others little more than wide trails. Yet other prompted directions would have sent the travelers over cliffs, washed-out paths or boulder-strewn flats that didn’t appear to have been roads—ever.

Dressed appropriately for outdoors on a moderately cool fall day in the Valley, the group was relatively scantily clad for higher elevation temperatures. They climbed upward along winding, Manzanita-spotted hairpin turns on steep inclines and increasingly rough road. The mer- cury dropped along with the sun, now sinking in the pink western sky behind the Coast Range, visible from the clear, cold Sierra.

Sure, they were lost, the normally easygoing Jarrod would admit. But you just turn around and head downward, back from wherever you came—wherever that was.

Still having a good time and chatting noisily, they were unable to hear the car radiator’s hissing. But soon the switchbacks slowed them enough to see it had begun emitting a little steam—which, it had been doing for a few days, a fact that that Jennifer had forgotten to mention to Jarrod before they set out that day. They would soon discover that it had cracked. With a minor explosion jolting nerves and steam now boil- ing out from under the hood, the off-guard Jarrod tried to pull quickly to the side of the narrow, dirt and gravel road.

Discombobulated, he misjudged the shadowy, soggy shoulder, now a deep red, iron-rich brick color darkened by recent rains. The car was not only broken down, but now stuck in a soft, muddy roadside culvert. Not that it mattered much. “Stuck two ways is still just stuck,”

he fumed to Jennifer, irritated after she—who didn’t know a lot about cars—sheepishly offered her diagnosis of the engine problem.

“I remember just a little steam coming out from under the front of the hood when I pulled into work on Friday,” she granted, omitting that she had noticed a wisp or two the prior couple of days, as well.

The group was now stranded, with virtually no homes or shelter within miles. Jarrod had taken turns suggested by the GPS system, led to an elevation of well over 4,500 feet, to no place they wanted to be in the darkening, cold, moonless night. Mid-30s were expected on the Valley floor overnight. But at this elevation, microclimate temperatures can differ widely, depending on which side of a mountain you are on, for example. It is often well below freezing this time of year.

All three adults had their cell phones. Too bad they were well out of range of any cellular service.

Furthermore, no one except Jennifer’s stockbroker sister in Los Angeles knew the group’s afternoon plan. She knew only that the group had gone sightseeing, not exactly where. Nor had Jennifer known their itinerary when the two instant messaged via Facebook a few days prior.

They were now on their own with only their wits, light clothing, a baby blanket and the inert car for warmth. At least Jennifer had bundled up Kylie pretty well before departing the house.

Much can be learned from their plight.

“Young children’s heads have a proportionally larger surface area for their size than either adults or older children,” says Jim Andrews. M.D., Medical Director for the Fresno-based Central California Emergency Services Agency (CCEMSA). “This makes them more susceptible to heat loss or heat gain if not properly clothed. In addition, nonverbal children cannot communicate their needs and discomforts as well as adults or verbal children.” The mistake is thinking, “If I am warm, my baby is warm.” Dr. Andrews says that is not necessarily the case.

Like the very young, the elderly are vulnerable. They share similarly limited physical reserves, says Dr. Andrews, but are also more likely to be taking various medications that affect survival issues like those posed by hypothermia (the medical term for the body’s inability to maintain high enough temperature). “The elderly tend to have more medical conditions and take more medication that can interfere with appro- priate thermoregulation, both hot and cold,” Dr. Andrews points out, adding that malnutrition, a fixed or limited income, or inability to pay the electric bill cause problems in both winter and summer.”

The mountain setting of the opening scenario is not the only threatposed to Valley residents. Our urban environments are just as likely to yield grim statistics, if not more so. “(Hypothermia incidents) are more common than readers might think,” says Dr. Andrews. “Elderly people who live alone can become incapacitated. Drug and alcohol users pass out outside, ill or demented people who live alone can run into unde- tected or unanticipated troubles, too, he says.

Contrary to the myth, alcohol only makes the cold person sense warmth, as the intoxicated person may feel that warmth leaving the body. “Alcohol use, which is a vasodilator, causes heat to be lost from the body more rapidly, making people more susceptible to hypother- mia,” he says, contrary to images of cowboys with whiskey by the fire on a cold prairie night.

Rivers, swimming pools, heating malfunctions, or power outages are just a few other risks to consider.

How to Stay Warm and Ward Off Hypothermia:

Dr. Jim Andrews, Medical Director for the Fresno-based Central California Emergency Services Agency, says you need to think about three things: Getting your body to make more heat, get- ting more heat from an outside source, and losing less heat from your body to the outside world.

1. Bring extra clothing along on outdoor trips—even on day hikes. You could get lost or something unexpected might hap- pen. Wet clothing conducts heat away from the body much more rapidly than cold air of the same temperature.

2. Bring matches so you can start a fire if needed. Bring warm liquids, too, to add body heat. 3. Find shelter. 4. Stay dry.

5. If you are with others, share body heat. Depending on who is in the group, you may need to overcome social hesitations to do this. 6. Be aware. “It won’t happen to us,” or “We’ll only be outside for a little while,” are two common beliefs that often precede cold weather emergencies.

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Driving in snow and ice is a high-risk activ- ity. Vision and traction are reduced while collision potential is increased. Postponing driving or driving as roads are cleared or sanded helps manage the risk, but sometimes drivers must face

the danger.

Vision

A driver’s ability to see is hindered on roads covered with snow. Sun and headlight glare decrease the ability to see well. You can optimize your ability to see and be seen with some simple actions. Make sure windows are clear and ice-free. Keep the car’s lights clean of grime and ice—good lighting allows you to see road markers and signs and lets other drivers see you sooner. Dim the lights on the dashboard.

Traction

Control of the vehicle is a major risk factor in snow and ice. Traction is best on fresh snow as opposed to packed snow. At 32 degrees the vehicle’s traction is reduced by half as water covers the ice. Sunrise, as the sun melts the ice, is extremely dangerous. Maximize traction by using recommended tire pressures and appropriate tire treads for snow and ice, as well as properly fitted tire chains. Review a car’s vehicle manual to use new technology in traction control. TCS, traction control systems, limit wheel spin by reducing engine power and individually applying brake pressure to each tire as needed. Deactivate the TCS if you are stuck in the snow and trying to rock the car free.

Vehicle

Prepare your car for driving in the snow. Visibility is enhanced with clean, working lights, defrosters, and windshield wiper blades. Don’t use cruise control in the slippery conditions. Keep the gas tank full. This adds more weight and better traction and lowers condensation in fuel lines, which can freeze overnight.

Reduce Risk

You can lower crash potential with some common-sense choices. Choose the appropriate time to travel and leave early, giving yourself plenty of time to drive at a safe speed. Increase your following distance from three seconds to six or eight seconds. Reduce your speed to half the maximum speed limit if snow is on the road. When driving in icy conditions, slow to a crawl. Make all speed and steering adjustments gradually by recognizing dangerous situations early. Bridges and over- passes freeze first, so ease off the accelerator early. Intersections have compacted snow melted by the heat of cars waiting at traffic controls.

Scan for black ice in mountainous areas.

Snow and ice create many challenges for drivers. Plan the trip by check- ing traffic reports. Prepare your vehicle for maximum visibility and trac- tion. Most importantly, adjust your speed and space creating a lower risk driving environment.

BY JIM BLANKS | PHOTOS BY DAVID SWANN

Deputy Eric Schmidt still clearly remembers arriving near Rae Lake in October 2004. Just twenty-four hours after performing a rain-soaked rescue near Hume Lake, Schmidt and the Fresno County Search and Rescue Team were back on the job. This time, four members of the Bargetto Winery family had gone missing in the wilderness. Six inches of snow had already wiped away all signs of trails, and a larger storm was building. “Overnight, another foot of snow had fallen,” Schmidt says, recalling the struggle to find footing in the fresh powder. “The storm was much colder, very wet, and the snow was pilling up.”

Still, Schmidt and two deputies pressed forward, hiking through waist-high snow, fighting forty-mile-an-hour winds, and never once losing focus on the fact that there were four people in the wilderness waiting to be found.

“We would walk twenty-five to thirty feet before exhaustion made us stop,” Schmidt says. “Visibility was almost zero. The snow would not stop falling from the sky.”

Deputy Jared McCormick, one of the other men assigned to this mission, remembers the night: “We sought shelter by digging snow caves. This was a real eye opener for how brutal Mother Nature can be.”

Meanwhile, a second search and rescue mission was taking place near Mystery Lake, this one headed by Sergeant Kathy Curtice.

“Having two searches running at the same time greatly limited our resources,” Curtice says. “And conditions were just about the worst possible.”

Deputy Matthew Hamilton, part of the Mystery Lake search team, agrees. “We were sinking up to our waists every step we took. It took several hours just to travel a quarter mile. I can remember the hose to my Camelbak froze solid.”

No Turning Back

With two desperate searches happening in frigid, blizzard conditions, it wouldn’t be surprising if search teams quit, packed up their gear, and hiked out of the mountains. But Sergeant Curtice may have said it best: “If a person is lost in the wilderness and in need of rescue, there is nobody to call other than this team.”

There was a fortunate break in the weather, and after four days of searching, slogging through deep powder and camping in sub-freezing conditions, the Fresno County Search and Rescue Team was successful. With the help of the Sheriff’s Department helicopter, Eagle One, the team found and recovered the missing hikers from both parties.

Deputy Schmidt remembers arriving by helicopter and helping the Bargetto family to safety: “The helicopter would not land so we had to jump about eight feet into the snow. The snow was up to our necks, but once we dug our way out we made our way to the family.”

“They were extremely happy,” Schmidt continues. “They had socks on their hands. Their camp was demolished by snow and wind.” But the important part was they were safe. And they were going home. This is the ultimate goal for the Fresno County Search and Rescue team, an eighteen-member squad that remains on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The team is one of the few in the nation that will search around the clock for a missing person.

“We all have our regular assignments at the Sheriff’s office,” Deputy Joe Smith explains. “We do this in addition to what we already do full-time. And once you’ve made the team, you are available any- time, 365 days a year. Once the mission is sent out to our pagers, we respond.”

Ready For Anything

This often means leaving in the middle of the night, or in the case of the Bargetto Search and Rescue, working two missions back-to-back. The team is trained in many areas, including swift water rescue, technical rope rescue scenarios, and summer and winter wilderness survival tac- tics. Although they prepare mostly for the high Sierras, team members are ready for any type of extreme climate.

Even with extensive training, Deputy Hamilton says, that most of the learning takes place on the job.

“It is one thing to learn certain techniques in a controlled envi- ronment, and another to apply what you have learned in a real-life situation. Rescues are often very stressful, dynamic, and dangerous situations that require split-second decision-making. Real-life experience is something that can’t be gained in a classroom setting.”

Sergeant Curtice agrees, and she should know: In 1998, she began as a Deputy Sheriff with the Search and Rescue Team, and now is one of four supervisors. She is responsible for leading missions, and she says that experience plays a large role in the success of the team.

Working the Probabilities

“Without a doubt, experience makes a difference,” Curtice says. “Mis- sions are uniquely different, but we do have areas of the county to which we return time and time again. The prior experience allows us to look at probabilities.”

Although probabilities do not guarantee success, they are used to aid the Search and Rescue Team; team members can more easily and accurately assess a situation by comparing it to previous missions. This method of using probabilities to determine possible outcomes is used statewide, and statistics have been gathered to form a database of what different types of behavior will typically be seen on a given search. “For example,” Curtice says, “statistics show that fishermen, hunters, and hikers will all behave differently from each other when lost. Our job when managing searches is to attempt to figure out these probabilities, and then try to contain our missing person within that

geographical area.” Unfortunately, when people become lost in the wilderness, they don’t always follow the expected plan. Most Search and Rescue team members say that the biggest mistake people make when they are lost is they keep moving. They try to find a way to safety, and many times only make the situation worse.

“They always seem to head downhill, believing that if they find a creek or river, it will take them to a lake or town,” Deputy McCormick says. This is not always true, and could cause you to walk right out of a search area.”

“Often times when people become lost, they begin to panic, which negatively influences their decision-making skills,” Deputy Ham- ilton adds. “Stay put, use sticks or branches to form a HELP sign in an open clearing, and use what you can, bright-colored clothes or a mirror to reflect the sun, to signal aircraft.”

Hug A Tree

The most important thing to remember, team members agree, is to leave an itinerary with family members and friends, and then do not stray from the planned route. At elementary school assemblies, the Fresno Search and Rescue Team teaches children to “Hug a Tree.” This shows children the importance of staying in one place and waiting to be rescued. Team members say people who are lost should not attempt to self-rescue, but should leave this dangerous process to trained professionals.

Sometimes, the rescue mission can be especially dangerous. In addition to the Bargetto Winery Search and Rescue, more recently team members were called upon to find two hikers that had gone missing near Edison Lake. The search team found one of the missing hikers, tired, hungry, and frostbitten on his fingers. The other hiker had fallen off a steep embankment and died from his injuries.

Still the Search and Rescue Team was not finished. If a person cannot be saved, the team will make sure to recover the body if possible, even if this means putting themselves in danger. Deputies used rope systems and rappelled down the cliff until they reached the body, then placed it into a specialized bag. The bag was then attached to a rope, which was attached to the Eagle One helicopter. The body and the deputies were later safely transported back to Edison Lake.

The Fresno Search and Rescue Team is committed to saving lives, and to rescuing people in need.

“We provide a service to every member of our county,” Deputy Smith says. “We use any means possible to search for and rescue a lost or injured person. We do so until we’ve exhausted all our efforts.”

All-Terrain Team

These efforts include mountain searches, swift-water rescues, and even urban searches for missing children or at-risk missing adults. It was the Fresno Search and Rescue Team that located Alex Mercado, a missing child that was recently found in Mendota. The team also joins other agencies during particularly large or difficult searches.

“The Search and Rescue Team is unique because we incorporate a large amount of volunteers and other agencies,”

Deputy Hamilton says. “These include Mountaineers, Jeep Squadron, Snowmobile Team, and the Air Squadron.”

So, if you find yourself stranded in the wilderness, if you are stuck on a trail or are caught in a sudden snowstorm, do not panic. Help is on the way. “Stay calm,” Deputy Schmidt says. “Our deputies are trained to abilities beyond the normal person and will take the risks necessary to bring lost people back to their families safely.” Like heroes in the night, the Fresno Search and Rescue Team is never  far, and will do everything possible to save the lives of those in need. “If we didn’t do it, who would?” Sergeant Curtice says. “As the last resort for help, we will go—no matter what.”

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BY KIMBERLY SHERMAN

PHOTOS BY COREY NICKOLS

Gosh, it’s a pain to change the battery in the smoke detector. That unmistakable screech of a smoke alarm in need of some TLC just grates on the ears; it’s almost an easier solution just to take out the battery all together and be done with it. After all, what’s the risk? A home fire will never happen to me.

The mantra “It’ll never happen to me” rips through the soul of Sylvia Escalante every day as she mourns the loss of her girls, Anna, 9, and Ruvi, 8.

Inspired, encouraged, determined to erase that inaccurate notion from the minds of others, she continues her trek, alongside Fire Captain Mike Bowman of Cal Fire/Fresno County Fire Department, to inform everyone she can about the life-saving abilities of the smoke detector.

Bowman was the public information officer (PIO) in the wee, cold hours of February 2006 when he responded to a house in Calwa, in the southern part of Fresno. It was an electri- cal fire—the outlet that housed the refrigerator plug caught fire. The fingers of the flames and curling smoke wrapped the older home tightly within minutes.

The fire department arrived within five minutes of receiv- ing the call and found fire bulging and reaching from the bars, typical of the neighborhood, which gripped each window. “Firefighters went to the north side of the house and ripped the bars off,” said Bowman. “Using thermal imaging, they found two girls, collapsed, within 15 feet of the window.

“They were both revived, but succumbed, within two days, to smoke inhalation.”

A single mother, Escalante was working three jobs to support her girls, and was still mourning the loss of her father, whom she’d buried two months earlier. “I wanted my kids to have everything,” she sighed. “I wanted to keep them off the streets. They were going to join cheerleading the following year.”

Escalante had taken a night job at a group home to save up—a cheerleading mom knows how much money is involved in the sport—and both of Escalante’s girls had the talent and desire to join their school’s squad. Escalante’s sister, who lived in a home in the back of the property, kept watch over the girls while their mother was away.

The blood-curdling screech of a properly maintained smoke detector would have saved the girls’ lives that night.

Origin of Early Detection

Bowman was in the position to step back and see the whole of the tragedy instead of the bits and pieces normally witnessed by firefighters.

“As PIO, I had a chance to look at the layers and decide what could’ve been done differently. As investigators got to the scene, I real- ized there were no smoke detectors; (the girls) would’ve heard that while there was still just a small fire in the back part of the house,” said Bow- man. Realizing this, Bowman said, “I started talking to other guys, talked to chief, and came up with the Early Detection program.”

Bowman raised close to $30,000 from the public, including churches, youth groups, and businesses. “I’d go talk to people. I got donations and solicited companies to sell us smoke detectors at their cost or at a discount, and we bought batteries,” he said. “We’ve cov- ered sixteen communities in three counties, and have installed close to 7,000 smoke detectors.”

Oprah Winfrey, through KFSN, the local ABC affiliate, highlighted the Early Detection program on her then-new reality show, “The Big Give.” With a generous donation of $10,000, Oprah challenged Bow-man and the program to reach inside themselves and take their cause to a higher level. Bowman, Escalante, and countless volunteers, both firefighters and civilians, brought the challenge to fruition.

“We covered four communities and nearly 5,000 homes in one day,” said Bowman. “Ninety percent of Fresno County now has a working smoke detector.”

Sharing Her Story

The tragedy has brought together valor and victim, “one of the most important aspects of the program,” said Bowman. “The mother of the two kids has been a martyr for this program. She’s been with us along every step of the way.”

“I go house to house too,” said Escalante. “It helps that I’m Spanish-speaking. I join a team of firefighters and we go. I talk to the residents and tell them my story and how important it is to have a smoke detector.”

All too often, says Escalante, people think that a fire-related tragedy won’t happen to them, or conclude that the noise of a smoke alarm isn’t worth the hassle. But statistics tell a different story. Since the inception of the Early Detection program, three houses bearing newly installed smoke detectors have gone up in smoke, alerting each family to safety. “That woke me up,” said Bowman. “The (Early Detec- tion) system is working.”

Tarpey Village, located in the southern part of Clovis, is the last remaining county island for Bowman, Escalante, and their team to outfit with smoke detectors and batteries before heading into main- tenance mode. The team asks that the citizens of Tarpey keep on the lookout for notices heralding the onslaught of firefighters for the Early Detection program and requesting cooperation between volunteers and citizens. Aside from installing smoke detectors, the volunteers will also replace batteries and answer questions about the program and the importance of having working smoke detectors in the home.

Residents of Tarpey or any other community in Fresno County interested in more information about the Early Detection program can visit FresnoCountyFire.org or call headquarters at 559.485.7500.

Touching Hearts

Escalante is thankful for her son, who has been a beacon of hope for her through this nightmare. Aside from Bowman’s, her story has cap- tured

the heart of Nathan Magsig, former mayor of Clovis. “He helped us a lot. Besides a lot of good support from the community, he had people come in to decorate the (new) house,” said Escalante. “He and Mike were our angels.”

Legislator Juan Arambula was also touched by Escalante’s story, and escorted her to Sacramento, where they spoke to California legisla- tors. Assembly Bill 1812, signed into law last year, was directly related to the Early Detection program and states in part, “…individual taxpayers are allowed to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts, including, among others, the California Firefighters’ Memorial Fund and the California Peace Officer Memorial Foundation Fund.”

A woman with an experienced, heartache-tinged voice, Escalante pleads with the average citizen, “If your smoke alarm goes off, get out. And change the smoke detector batteries. It could save your life.”

BY KIMBERLY SHERMAN

PHOTOS BY COREY NICKOLS

Gosh, it’s a pain to change the battery in the smoke detector. That unmistakable screech of a smoke alarm in need of some TLC just grates on the ears; it’s almost an easier solution just to take out the battery all together and be done with it. After all, what’s the risk? A home fire will never happen to me.

The mantra “It’ll never happen to me” rips through the soul of Sylvia Escalante every day as she mourns the loss of her girls, Anna, 9, and Ruvi, 8. Inspired, encouraged, determined to erase that inaccurate notion from the minds of others, she continues her trek, alongside Fire Captain Mike Bowman of Cal Fire/Fresno County Fire Department, to inform everyone she can about the life-saving abilities of the smoke detector.

Bowman was the public information officer (PIO) in the wee, cold hours of February 2006 when he responded to a house in Calwa, in the southern part of Fresno. It was an electri- cal fire—the outlet that housed the refrigerator plug caught fire. The fingers of the flames and curling smoke wrapped the older home tightly within minutes.

The fire department arrived within five minutes of receiv- ing the call and found fire bulging and reaching from the bars, typical of the neighborhood, which gripped each window. “Firefighters went to the north side of the house and ripped the bars off,” said Bowman. “Using thermal imaging, they found two girls, collapsed, within 15 feet of the window.

“They were both revived, but succumbed, within two days, to smoke inhalation.”

A single mother, Escalante was working three jobs to support her girls, and was still mourning the loss of her father, whom she’d buried two months earlier. “I wanted my kids to have everything,” she sighed. “I wanted to keep them off the streets. They were going to join cheerleading the following year.”

Escalante had taken a night job at a group home to save up—a cheerleading mom knows how much money is involved in the sport—and both of Escalante’s girls had the talent and desire to join their school’s squad. Escalante’s sister, who lived in a home in the back of the property, kept watch over the girls while their mother was away.

The blood-curdling screech of a properly maintained smoke detector would have saved the girls’ lives that night.

Origin of Early Detection

Bowman was in the position to step back and see the whole of the tragedy instead of the bits and pieces normally witnessed by firefighters.

“As PIO, I had a chance to look at the layers and decide what could’ve been done differently. As investigators got to the scene, I real- ized there were no smoke detectors; (the girls) would’ve heard that while there was still just a small fire in the back part of the house,” said Bow- man. Realizing this, Bowman said, “I started talking to other guys, talked to chief, and came up with the Early Detection program.”

Bowman raised close to $30,000 from the public, including churches, youth groups, and businesses. “I’d go talk to people. I got donations and solicited companies to sell us smoke detectors at their cost or at a discount, and we bought batteries,” he said. “We’ve cov- ered sixteen communities in three counties, and have installed close to 7,000 smoke detectors.”

Oprah Winfrey, through KFSN, the local ABC affiliate, highlighted the Early Detection program on her then-new reality show, “The Big Give.” With a generous donation of $10,000, Oprah challenged Bow-man and the program to reach inside themselves and take their cause to a higher level. Bowman, Escalante, and countless volunteers, both firefighters and civilians, brought the challenge to fruition.

“We covered four communities and nearly 5,000 homes in one day,” said Bowman. “Ninety percent of Fresno County now has a working smoke detector.”

Sharing Her Story

The tragedy has brought together valor and victim, “one of the most important aspects of the program,” said Bowman. “The mother of the two kids has been a martyr for this program. She’s been with us along every step of the way.”

“I go house to house too,” said Escalante. “It helps that I’m Spanish-speaking. I join a team of firefighters and we go. I talk to the residents and tell them my story and how important it is to have a smoke detector.”

All too often, says Escalante, people think that a fire-related tragedy won’t happen to them, or conclude that the noise of a smoke alarm isn’t worth the hassle. But statistics tell a different story. Since the inception of the Early Detection program, three houses bearing newly installed smoke detectors have gone up in smoke, alerting each family to safety. “That woke me up,” said Bowman. “The (Early Detec- tion) system is working.”

Tarpey Village, located in the southern part of Clovis, is the last remaining county island for Bowman, Escalante, and their team to outfit with smoke detectors and batteries before heading into main- tenance mode. The team asks that the citizens of Tarpey keep on the lookout for notices heralding the onslaught of firefighters for the Early Detection program and requesting cooperation between volunteers and citizens. Aside from installing smoke detectors, the volunteers will also replace batteries and answer questions about the program and the importance of having working smoke detectors in the home.

Residents of Tarpey or any other community in Fresno County interested in more information about the Early Detection program can visit FresnoCountyFire.org or call headquarters at 559.485.7500.

Touching Hearts

Escalante is thankful for her son, who has been a beacon of hope for her through this nightmare. Aside from Bowman’s, her story has cap- tured

the heart of Nathan Magsig, former mayor of Clovis. “He helped us a lot. Besides a lot of good support from the community, he had people come in to decorate the (new) house,” said Escalante. “He and Mike were our angels.”

Legislator Juan Arambula was also touched by Escalante’s story, and escorted her to Sacramento, where they spoke to California legisla- tors. Assembly Bill 1812, signed into law last year, was directly related to the Early Detection program and states in part, “…individual taxpayers are allowed to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts, including, among others, the California Firefighters’ Memorial Fund and the California Peace Officer Memorial Foundation Fund.”

A woman with an experienced, heartache-tinged voice, Escalante pleads with the average citizen, “If your smoke alarm goes off, get out. And change the smoke detector batteries. It could save your life.”

BY JILL K. APPLEGATE

How about a little hometown trivia? Here’s some of the history, the glory, and the infamy of Fresno and the Central Valley, courtesy of the Pacific Coast Region National Model Railroad Association.

Always Sunny in Fresno

With 79% sunshine throughout the year, Fresno is the seventh sunniest city in the United States.

Holy Water

The first irrigation canals in Fresno County were developed by resident Moses Church. These “church ditches” transformed the landscape of Fresno County from dry desert to rich soil, sparking a staggeringly successful agriculture and farming community, part of the richest farming region in the history of the world.

Top of the Crops

Fresno County is the U.S.’s most productive agricul- tural region, producing more than $4 billion each year from its more than 250 agricultural crops.

Fruit of the Vine

In 1875, pioneering winemaker Frances Eisen accidentally left some of his grapes on the vine too long. The dried grapes gave birth to Fresno’s illustrious raisin industry—and crowning the city the Raisin capital of the world.

Sour Grapes

Reputed to be the most corrupt politician in Fresno County history, Vice-leader Joseph Spinney was mayor for only ten minutes. During his 1893 tenure he gave a speech thanking voters for electing him, resign- ing from his post, and nominating CJ Craycroft to the post, which Craycroft held for eight years, according to “The Valley’s Legends & Legacies III.”

Tree City

Fresno came to be a town in 1872, as the railroad was laid down through the Valley. It was named after the native ash trees.

Deep Roots

The county’s first orange tree was planted before Fresno was even a city—in 1866 in Centerville. The first apples and fig orchards were planted by two former slaves, Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Moore.

Our cover this issue gave us a wonderful excuse for a staff field trip to the mountains. On November 5th, our production team, along with photographer David Swann and photo stylist, Susan Thompson, headed up to Shaver Lake to meet up with members of Fresno County Sheriff’s Department’s Search and Rescue Team (SAR Team). We met at the bottom of the dam, just before the switchbacks, for a day of high angled rope rescue drills and even some high anxiety (and impromptu) stunt maneuvering by Swann.

After a quick bite of lunch, our crew began its trek up the hill through trees of beautifully changing leaves and hiking over what we later discovered to be bear tracks. Soon we made it to our destination: an enormous mountain on which the SAR team practices for some of its more perilous rescues.

In several seemingly effortless ascensions to the top of the mountain and back down, our team of rescuers provided us with ample dramatic images— including those taken by Swann, who made it to the top of the mountain without a harness or rope. Needless to say, those watching from below were, well, not watching.

Talent: On the cover (left to right): Deputies Joe Smith, Eric Schmidt, Matt Hamilton

Special Thanks: To the members of the SAR Team for volunteering their time and efforts to save the lives of many who have been lost and imperiled up in the mountains. We are extremely grateful to you for your dedication to protecting our valley.