By Terry Miller
While we at Arcadia Weekly make no endorsements during elections, we felt it appropriate for the men and women of the Arcadia Fire Department to have a voice on the much misunderstood Utility User’s Tax (UUT) Measure and why so many local guys remained local to serve their community.
Arcadia’s reputation for a stellar fire department is a matter of public record. The men and women who are highly trained to protect their community rarely do they get the acknowledgment that is so well-deserved. 15 percent of Arcadia’ Fire Department is comprised of local guys who were brought up in Arcadia.
Hopefully, we will help you get to know a little more about the men and women who serve this city day and night.
We asked these local guys what makes them tick, why they became firefighters, and why they chose to remain in Arcadia.
– Brian Ursettie:
“I was born at Methodist hospital, grew up in the village, where my parents still live. When applying to different departments, Arcadia was always number one on my list, when I was hired at the age of 26 I was in back rounds with the City of Los Angeles and had an interview with Pasadena. I called both places and withdrew my name from the process. When I pictured myself as a firefighter it was always in Arcadia. I like running into my former teachers when we go to the schools to talk about fire safety, I run into my mom at the grocery store from time to time. I have a great appreciation for this city, and am grateful for the part it played in who we have become. The Arcadia Fire Department is one of the most highly trained departments around with a fabulous reputation.
“What is the greatest concern that the residents of Arcadia face? Without a doubt, Measure A, the repeal of the UUT. If Measure A were to pass the residents of this city would see a dramatic loss of service. From the fire side, they would face the closure of Fire Station 107 on Orange Grove, and a loss of nine firefighters plus one chief. Response times could increase, whether on a fire or medical calls, one minute might mean the difference between life and death.
“The police would be facing a cut of 12 police officers in a time where crime all across LA County is on the rise. This tax has been in place since the 1970s, and to eliminate it completely would have a huge impact on city services. I think the saddest part of the whole measure is that it has nothing to do with the City of Arcadia, which has always been a fiscally conservative city.
“It is being driven by a Pasadena-based Group “California Tax Limitation Committee” which is trying to repeal the UUT in hundreds of cities.
“I am a very conservative person, but I wouldn’t sacrifice the safety of Arcadians for any political agenda. The literature being circulated has tons of fabrications and half-truths for the very reason that the city council has done a great job managing the taxpayers money. We are all very concerned about Measure A, we are concerned for the residents, our families that still live in town, and our members that will have to protect and serve the city with fewer resources.”
– Chen Suen:
“Growing up in a semi-Americanized, semi-traditional Taiwanese family; it was difficult to imagine myself growing up to be anything but a lawyer, doctor, or business person. This was the expectation of my Taiwanese immigrant parents.
“My father suggested something that I will never forget, ‘Why don’t you think about being a public servant? Become a police officer or firefighter.’
“My mother was in the room at the time and quickly responded with a worried tone, ‘No guns, no firefighters … it’s too dangerous.’
“I never liked guns, but the thought of becoming a firefighter stuck. Why you ask? Who wouldn’t want to ride on a fire truck, respond to emergency incidents with lights and sirens, only to know that in the end you are going to make a difference in someone’s life? This was it. My mind and eyes were set on becoming a firefighter.
“In short, it took me three years to get hired, broken down in the following way – one year of fire technology studies; four months in a full-time fire academy; and working a year-and-a-half on a private ambulances as an emergency medical technician while volunteering one 24-hour shift with the La Habra Heights Fire Department (six months) and one 24-hour shift as a reserve firefighter with the Arcadia Fire Department (four months). There were times I would work six to seven days a week, determined and focused on the prize. At this point not only did I want to become a firefighter, I wanted to be one with the Arcadia Fire Department. Arcadia was home to me.
“I was not hired initially by Arcadia, but found a job with the Downey Fire Department.
After a year of grueling training as a Downey probationary firefighter, luck and chance would come my way. On a major campaign wild land fire, I would cross paths with a few of my old colleagues. I will never forget seeing Engine 105 drive into base camp to rehabilitate after a 24-hour assignment. I remember thinking to myself at the time, ‘this is a sign!’
“The crew members, who I happened to be familiar with and already felt like family to me, approached me and were very supportive. They asked one simple question, ‘Are you happy with your decision?’
I knew right away what the answer to that question was, ‘Not really.’
“Three months later, my dream was fulfilled and I was finally an Arcadia firefighter.
“Every shift I have worked in the past 12 years has been met with no regrets.”
– Travis Ring:
“I decided in college that I was interested in becoming a firefighter. I was a business major at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and decided that the business world wasn’t for me. After finishing my degree, I jumped right into a new career path. I knew I wanted a career that I would be helping others on a daily basis. I also wanted a dynamic career, where every day is different and routine is not always the norm. I knew I wanted a career where I would never stop learning new things. As the needs of the community change, we are required to adapt to those needs, so our skill set is always getting bigger and better.
“Originally, I just wanted to be a firefighter anywhere, but the opportunity came up to become sponsored by Arcadia during my training at Rio Hondo Fire Academy. After that training, door after door kept opening and I was able to become a reserve firefighter with Arcadia. I had been testing with different fire departments, but Arcadia opened up for hiring and it was meant to be.
“Once I had become a reserve firefighter with Arcadia, it became clear to me that it was where I wanted to be. I love the size of the department, where I can come to work on any shift, at any station, and have a solid relationship with all of the crew members. At a bigger department there isn’t that opportunity to get to know everyone well. And in a career in which trust in your coworkers affects your safety, Arcadia was an easy choice.
“Growing up in Arcadia and being an Arcadia firefighter is such a rewarding experience. I love having an in depth familiarity with the town and its residents. It’s not uncommon to be at the grocery store shopping for a station dinner and I will run into old friends or even my own parents. “
– Nick Wiegland:
“As for me, I guess why I chose to work for Arcadia is that it is still home to me in so many ways. I moved to San Luis Obispo to go to college and then to San Diego for what I thought was going to be my career at the time, but Arcadia was always my home. My parents still live in the house my brothers and I grew up in and one of my brothers lives in Arcadia as well, so it’s nice having family and friends still around. It is also good to be able to serve, help, and be there for the community that gave me so much when I was growing up.”
– Kevin Valentine:
“My family moved to Arcadia in 1976 where I attended Baldwin Stocker, First Avenue Jr. High, and graduating from Arcadia High School in 1986. I am a third generation firefighter and always knew this was what I wanted to do all my life. That passion has been passed on to my 15-year-old son who has already started his path as a fire explorer. My daughters (17 and 10) have different interests.
“I began pursuing my career as soon as I graduated high school by attending Rio Hondo College. I applied and tested with over 50 fire departments throughout the state of California. Ironically, on the same day I received my acceptance letter into Paramedic School, I was also offered two jobs, one with El Centro Fire Department and the other with Arcadia Fire Department. Without thinking twice I accepted the position with Arcadia Fire Department. Arcadia Fire Department has always had an outstanding reputation in the industry for maintaining high standards in training and good equipment.
“I have never regretted making Arcadia my home and actually declined a position with the Los Angeles Fire Department in the early ‘90s. I like working for Arcadia Fire Department because I can relate to the high standards the department, the city, and the community deserve. This is a professional department that is also a tight-knit family.”
– Jeremy Conrad:
“My family has called Arcadia home since the early 1930s. My great grandfather, in fact, was a carpenter that helped build much of our community including parts of Santa Anita Park. As far as my history with the Arcadia Fire Department, I am actually a second generation Arcadia firefighter. My father Neil Conrad retired as a captain after 29 years with the department in 2006. I was hired by Arcadia in August of 2011 after being a reserve for the Vernon Fire Department and Arcadia Fire department for about a year and a half. I wanted to feel good about what I did for society as a career. My dad always told us when we were growing up, ‘if you love what you do for a living, you’ll always be happy going to work.’
“I wanted that and have found that in my career in the fire service. You never really know what is in store for you when you come to work. As a child I was a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and being a firefighter keeps that kid in you alive. I have gone to work and ended up gone for two weeks on a brush fire in Northern California. This can be hard on a wife with a new baby at home, but being raised in a fire family your view of ‘normal’ is a bit different. You do miss lots of family event, holidays, and milestones with your kids. However this career makes you a part of a larger fire family that is always there for you. We are not just co-workers, we are family. I feel so lucky that I not only achieved my dream of becoming a firefighter, but that I am now able to give back to the family and community that helped raise me.”
– Tom Devlin
“Getting to experience the Arcadia life by being raised in Arcadia was a great experience with many opportunities for me. This is because I got to be a part of a supportive community surrounded by family members, friends, teachers, coaches and mentors. This influence has become a large part of the foundation of who and how I am today. As a young man it was apparent to me early in life that a career in the fire service was where I was headed, after years of training and earning education towards my fire service career I realized that Arcadia Fire Department continually came up as a great department with an amazing staff of firefighters. About this time my first son, Dylan, was born and I wanted to raise him with the same amazing community of Arcadia.
“So off to research the AFD I went. All the members from the Arcadia Fire Department that I met were professional, helpful and friendly so I made working for Arcadia Fire Department my goal, which we tied raising our son in the same supportive community of Arcadia that I was able to enjoy and grow from. After two years of working with and testing for the department I finally hit my goal and I was hired in 1995, I was hired 21 years ago. The time has gone by all too quickly, many of those fondest years ties being a firefighter in the community into our families events and giving back to the community by coaching many teams in soccer and baseball, assisting with Scouting, local schools and Parent Teacher Associations which enriched our lives as a family while being connected to the community.
“For me the Arcadia lifestyle has been composed of each one of these experiences, and has amounted to my commitment to serve this community. I love being able to protect and provide safety for my friends, family and fellow Arcadians living or visiting our fine community full of positive influences which I am blessed to serve.”
John Ansell:
“I became a firefighter to challenge myself and help others. The day to day job is always different and poses many diverse challenges that many people wouldn’t experience in an entire lifetime.
I was hired 8 years ago by the Arcadia fire department. I worked hard trying to get on with any department. When Arcadia offered me a job I had two offers from other agencies. Naturally I picked the place that I call home.”
