Clovis Fire Department Receives Central California Burn Prevention Award

The Clovis Fire Department raised $55,000 in its December 2019 fundraiser for the annual Central Valley Burn Relay. (Courtesy of Clovis Fire Dept.)

The Clovis Fire Department is the recipient of the 2020 Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s (AARBF) California Central California Burn Prevention Award for its leadership with the Firefighters in Safety Education (FISE).

FISE is a structured fire prevention program that allows AARBF to measure the progress of elementary school students’ learning through pre and post-testing about fire safety.

It all started when Clovis FD Life Safety Manager Chad Fitzgerald and Fire Captain Chris Bridger brainstormed how to implement FISE in its own fire department.

Clovis FD, along with Clovis Unified School District (CUSD), partnered with AARBF to provide the Clovis Community a strong burn prevention program through presentations at assemblies at the schools in the district, assuming an active role in the implementation of online testing and just being willing to incorporate the program.

“We have a shared effort towards a common goal and when you have community partners it is important to not duplicate efforts but instead maximize those efforts. That is what we have with AARBF, it makes it easier for the overall mission to be accomplished.” Fitzgerald said, according to the AARBF.

“For us we see the need and are definitely a group that always wants to find ways to give back to the community and this partnership is something that is very close to us. AARBF’s mission lines up with our mission too. With FISE, our priority is to keep our community safe so when we teach the kids fire safety practices, it grows into a safer community as well.”

But this isn’t the only way that Clovis FD supports the AARBF. Many of the department’s firefighters have become counselors at Champ Camp, a weeklong residential summer camp experience for child burn survivors aged five to 17, who have been treated at California hospitals or are current residents of the state.

Clovis FD also hosted a charity dinner and dance, and shared the donations through the Central Valley Burn Relay.

Michael graduated from Fresno State in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in print journalism. During his time at the university, he served as sports and managing editor for The Collegian, Fresno State’s student-run newspaper. In addition to the Clovis Roundup, Michael has written for The Fresno Bee, the Kingsburg Recorder and Selma Enterprise. He has a passion for sports and can be found on the sidelines at local games, bringing the citizens of Clovis the athletics news they deserve.