One man shouldn't apologize for what another man says. I understand that he felt the need to make it clear that Arvizu was not speaking on behalf of the fire department, which was probably a good idea. However, Arvizu had the right to say what he did as long as he wasn't misrepresenting who he was speaking for. If the firefighters have long disagreed with Hall Ambulance over the issue as the original post states, then it's good to see that one of them is finally brave enough to speak out about it.

Actually, Kern County Firefighters' union president Derek Robinson has told me Arvizu was not authorized to speak for the union either.

And, Robinson said, Arvizu's claim about Hall is inaccurate. Hall is Bakersfield's mayor (and a weak Mayor with minimal voting power) and all control of amulance rates and contracts is handled by the Kern County Office of Emergency Medical Services. Hall has no direct political influence over his company's contracts. The California Attorney General has ruled that the conflict of interest claims against Hall are unfounded at least twice that I can remember.

Does Hall have political influence in town? Sure. Does it mean's he is violating the law, as Arvizu claims? Not according to California's top cop.

James

I just want to make sure I understand...  The Kern County Office of Emergency Services is the agency that has decided that firefighters should not be cross trained as paramedics?

The Kern County Office of Emergency Medical Services (I corrected a typo in my above post) administers the county ambulance contracts under the direction of the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors have chosen not to have paramedic firefighters. However, Pine Mountain Club could vote in paramedic firefighters in November — if they create a special tax on themselves to pay for it.

Free speech aside, what happened to the Free Market advocates?  Hall Ambulance has an exclusive franchise, and if you've had to use that "service" lately, you will note the extremely lucrative amounts charged to you and your insurance company on the bill.  No competion -- No conflict of interest, I guess.

reformer,

The county's exclusive operating area system does give Hall a monopoly over service to most of Kern County. No other ambulance company can operate in his turf. You are right that this is not a "free market" situation.

But there are some controls over Hall's power to run his business however he wants. Hall must have all fee increases approved by the Kern County Board of Supervisors and if services in any area of his turf drop below certain levels he loses his contract in that area.

All other ambulance companies in the county operate under the same deal.

There's still a need for cleaning house at City Hall. Hall can be the first one to go.

I believe it is a conflict of interest.  I also get sick of seeing Harvey's daughter drunk at the Red Pepper loudly boasting that her "Daddy is the Mayor" or "Dont you know my Dad is the Mayor?"  

I have been there at noon for lunch and she is already drunk on a barstool, and then leaves to drive home when she is done drinking, its disgusting.   

Someone told me that she took over Hall Ambulance to make sure it didnt seem like a conflict of interest, however, Im not sure if all or any of that is true.  

She should at least manage her conduct a little better, c'mon her father is the mayor, and Im sure he would be embarrassed by her actions.  

I thought firefighters were already trained in first aid?    Firefighter: ‘Somebody who attempts to control or extinguish fires, and to rescue people or animals from danger’

Paramedic: ‘Somebody trained to perform emergency medical procedures in the absence of a doctor, especially a member of an ambulance crew’

Ambulance: ‘A vehicle designed and equipped for carrying people to and from a hospital’

I'll like that he will have to distribute his wealth to others if Obama wins. As for him having to get approval from the Kern County Board of Supervisors, so what? He asks, and they say how high, oops (  much ). O.K.! Simple stuff. The prices are outrageous! On top of that, they, at least in some cases, two I know of where they bill for things they did not provide. It is then up to you to fight them till your face turns blue to get them to take it off the bill.

This makes me mad. I REALLY hope this kid doesn't get into trouble. I don't think there was any reason for Chief Thompson to apologize, but if that is they way they want to play where is Corum's apology? The fact that Corum's statements made it out like the only thing firefighters were capable of doing was putting out fires was extremely naive and arrogant on his part. The mere fact that the majority of calls run by the fire dept are medical aids just shows how obtuse Mr. Corum's statement was. Let's not forget (as already stated in your piece) how may scenarios there are where paramedics aren't allowed anywhere near the victim until the firefighters have removed the victim from an unstable environment be it a car accident, trench rescue, collapse, etc. In these situations FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS could be giving these victims much needed medical care. This is something that paramedics will NEVER be capable of doing no matter how much money you throw at them.  

The Chief was making  a point " Probationary Employee"  There is no reason needed to relieve a Probationary Employee from their employment.  Arvizu makes good points it the presentation that will get him in hot water.............

Jburger

Maybe you could do a little research on the work history of those who currently make up the Kern County Office of Emergency Medical Services. Hall alumni? Ongoing relationship?

I don't believe an apology was necessary. Its a bold accusation, but is true and I'll tell you why. Kern County office of Emergency Medical Services is staffed with mostly Ex Hall ambulance employees/ paramedics. Many of which are Mayor Hall's friends. Most EMS departments are ran through the fire department. You see folks Hall Ambulance is providing a service for profit. Your local safety agencies like the sheriff and fire department's focus is on public safety.

Say you have a loved one that lives in Pine Mountain Club, and say they suffer a heart attack. Well, the local fire station will be there in minutes and Hall Ambulance responds from 25 minutes away in Frasier Park, maybe further. The firefighters have basic life saving skills, but as Firefighter/Paramedics there is so much more they can do for that patient. Like providing life saving medication or an advanced air way to name a few, thus giving your loved one a much better chance of surviving. But all they can do is wait, wait, wait. WHY!  Is it because Hall Ambulance and EMS doesn't want the fire department in the paramedic business. WHY? Is it because it will cut into there profit margin? WHY? Is it because they don't think a firefighter is capable of such training, that most of the fire departments in the state have? How does it hurt Hall Ambulance to have some firefighters provide advanced life support for the public they are sworn to protect. Can any of the ambulance people on this blog answer those questions? San Fransisco Fire, Los Angeles Fire, and San Diego Fire are all progressive fire department with Firefighter/Paramedics. Are you telling me they are all wrong too.

Harvey hall is not as innocent as he has people believe. It's about time somebody called this guy out.

The Fire Chief is a puppet of the BOS ... has to be quite an embarassment to him to have one of his own biys upset the big boys.

There are many opinions here.  As a public servant, I respect public opinions.  However, some of these comments are clearly inaccurate.  Here are a few points to consider:

russblind,

Thank you for all the information on EMS, and how its a little known department. But lets talk about what public servants like you and a department like yours focuses on. The public.

If Pine Mountain Club votes in favor of firefighter/paramedics, will EMS support staffing a firefighter/paramedic at the station there?

Then if there, why not the Glenville area or other areas within EMS jurisdiction where there are large gaps in Ambulance responses. If a person in one these areas, for example, goes into a diabetic coma. Firefighters must wait for later arriving Ambulance Paramedics to provide the necessary care to save the patient.

With the help and support of EMS. Firefighter/Paramedics and private ambulance paramedics can work in symbiance to better serve the public.

I have been working on the Firefighter/Paramedic issue for almost four years - ever since my husband died while waiting over an hour for Hall Ambulance to arrive at our home in Pine Mountain.  Our Fire Department was at our home within 8 minutes.  Come November 4th registered voters in Pine Mountain will have the chance to tax ourselves $70 a year to provide 24/7 Firefighter/Paramedic coverage.  If we pass this measure we will be the first location in Kern County to have this service.  Most people here believe, like I did, that all California counties provide this service.

Hall Ambulance representatives have over my four years of attending various meetings lied repeatedly to us during public meetings.  Earlier this year our Board of Supervisor representative (Ray Watson) encouraged the entire board to turn down a poilet project, funded by grant money, that would have given Pine Mountain and 2 other rural areas Firefighter/Paramedics for one year.  The Emergency Medical Services Department supported the BOS straight across the board with their reports.  One of their reports was a statistical analysis of the use of Hall Ambulance during 2005 in Pine Mountain.  There were no deaths reported in the analysis.  But, my husband died in 2/2005! 

If the Hall Ambulance situation in Kern County isn't a conflict of interest it certainly is an example of the "good ol boy" political network run a muck.  Karen Bailey

I have heard the Pine Mountain Club story where Hall takes "over an hour" to respond to a man in cardiac arrest at least 100 times. I do sympathize for anyone who has lost a loved one in such a tragic event, however in order to develop a true opinion on the matter, I decided to do some research.

I recently viewed both board meetings where paramedic service was brought up. I also read both reports from Kern County EMS and Kern County Fire. If anyone is interested you can find them at http://www.co.kern.ca.us/em...

Having actually read up on the matter, I found that the story mentioned above is not entirely accurate.

1. According to the county records, Hall took 56 minutes to arrive on scene, not "over an hour". (Still a very long time)

2. The fire department did not arrive in 8 minutes. According to the fire department's dispatch records, they took 20 minutes. This is mentioned in the report and on the video. Also, at no time did the fire department deny this.

3. The allegations that the EMS department did not report any deaths is false. The report clearly shows 3 deaths. (2 dead prior to EMS arrival, and 1 died on scene)

4. If the residents of Pine Mountain Club do vote to pay for paramedic service (their constitutional right), it will not be the first fire-based paramedic program to take place in Kern County. Looking at the Kern EMS website, I see that California City Fire provides 24/7 paramedic service and Bakersfield City Fire provides a rescue/hazmat paramedic service.

Obviously everyone has the right to their opinions, and I absolutely respect that. I just don't agree with providing distorted facts.

As for the firefighter appearing on live TV making accusations against Hall.....I think the department has every right to be upset. Going on TV and presenting yourself as a representative of any agency/company without proper consent from management is a bad idea. I would fully expect to lose my job if I did that. He does have a right to voice his opinion, but it's just that. HIS opinion. Not the opinion of the entire department.

Anyone who has lived in Bakersfield or Kern County long enough has heard the old "Harvey has a monopoly and a conflict of interest" speech. Well as James mentioned, the California Attorney General ruled that there is no conflict of interest. And on top of that, the man has been elected 3 times in a row. I would think that if the people of this city felt that he was abusing his role as mayor to benefit his company, they would quit electing him.

It just amazes me what people can complain about. Nobody complains about his performance as the Mayor of Bakersfield. Instead they criticize him for providing a life-saving service for the citizens of his community.

Best4most::  The short answer is if the voters of Pine Mountain Club approve the firefighter paramedic measure and fund paramedic first responder services through KCFD, of course we will support it and move forward.

The longer answer is that if the funding is approved, while that is a major hurdle, there is much more work to be done by the Kern County EMS Department in conjuction with the Kern County Fire Department to get this program into place and operational.  We have done this before and can clearly do it again.  One of the key issues is that the immediate area of Pine Mountain Club does not generate enough advanced life support patient contacts to maintain paramedic skills and competency.  So a process to mitigate that will need to be integrated into this program.  We can certainly work through this and any other issues with the Kern County Fire Department.

In regard to other communities, there should be a balance at some point.  Certainly, if a community organizes like Pine Mountain Club and provides the funding for paramedic first responder services through KCFD, that is very compelling.  But we also need to make sure those communities are fully informed about the options, the costs, and what these programs can realistically deliver.

I appreciate your interest.  Since I have no clue who you are or what organization you might work with, I would recommend that you call me at 661-868-5201 with any further comments or questions.

Ms. Bailey:  We hear you.  We are hopeful we can progress forward on this.

Drummin4fun:  Kudos on delving for the facts!  I don't normally participate in items like this.  But there were far too many distortions as you suggest.  I am not the final decision-maker for the Department.  I have bosses and they have bosses.  We are held accountable at many levels.  We are on track here.