Calipatria fire chief hired
CALIPATRIA — Jesse Llanas has been hired to serve as chief of the Calipatria Fire Department, where he was initially hired in 2002 as a fulltime firefighter and rose to the rank of captain.
The 44-year-old Valley native was serving as a captain at the Holtville Fire Department prior to being appointed chief on Aug. 13 by the Calipatria City Council.
Although Llanas said he had some reluctance seeking the position left vacant by the retirement of ex-chief Chris Hall in mid-May, friends and colleagues encouraged him to apply.
“They knew I would fit perfectly,” Llanas said. “I’m ready for this position.”
The 1993 graduate of Central Union High began studying fire sciences as a high school junior and has continued to expand his knowledge and experience since then.
His first firefighting experience came as a 17-year-old senior, during a ride-along with a Holtville Fire Department crew that was deployed to a fire at an occupied three-unit apartment building.
The crew was among the first on scene, and with his superior’s blessing, Llanas was provided an opportunity to prove his know-how and mettle.
“I went inside by myself and did an interior attack,” Llanas said. “When you go in, it’s a whole different experience from what they taught you.”
Such an experience would not be allowed to take place today, as a result of federal standards that require firefighters work in teams of two at a fire or rescue incident while additional firefighters stand at the ready outside in case of an unexpected emergency, he said.
After high school, Llanas was accepted into the local firefighter academy and upon completion in 1994 became a reserve firefighter for the Imperial County Fire Department.
He continued to serve in that capacity until 2002, while also working as a paid on-call firefighter for the Holtville Fire Department between 1995 and 2001.
In 2002, Llanas found full-time employment as a firefighter with the Calipatria Fire Department. He eventually moved to Arizona in 2015 before returning in 2017 to work as an EMT with the AMR Ambulance Services division in Redlands.
During his eight months as an ambulance EMT, Llanas gained a great deal of experience at a time when the San Bernardino County region was experiencing a spike in homicides.
His 12-hour graveyard shifts averaged about 15 calls for assistance, and included a significant number of trauma events stemming from traffic collisions on the three major freeways that crisscross the region.
Ultimately, Llanas decided to return to the Valley and work as a captain with the Holtville Fire Department.
“Big cities are not for me,” Llanas said. “For me, Imperial County is my home.”
This week marks his second week at the helm and his tenure so far has been without any “hiccups,” he said.
Some of his current goals for the department are to increase its public outreach efforts and establish more of a presence in the community though charitable acts.
Already, the department has created a Facebook page to promote its efforts and public safety mission.
“We’re here to provide public safety and provide everything we can for the community of Calipatria,” Llanas said.
Future plans call for the potential adoption of technology that would aid department personnel with report writing, and increasing youth engagement.
“I would like to develop a fire department Explorer program,” Llanas said.
The department averages about 400 calls for service annually. Its apparatus includes a ladder truck, fire engine, water tender, brush rig from the county and two utility trucks, according to information previously provided by former chief Hall, who Llanas worked under for several years.
“He knows his job,” Hall said, referring to Llanas.
Llanas was one of three individuals who applied for the job and one of two who were granted interviews.
Though Llanas had previously been with the department for more than 13 years and left on good terms, the city was hoping to hire its next chief from within, said Mayor Maria Nava-Froelich.
When that option did not pan out, the council selected Llanas, whose prior rank, level of certification, inner knowledge of the department and good standing with its personnel made him a logical choice, Nava-Froelich said.
“Hiring Llanas is like bringing him back home. He is highly qualified, and I have no doubt he will continue to grow professionally,” she said in a written statement. “He has the highest integrity and is devoted and dedicated to the service of others.”