ST. HELENA – When raging fires broke out in the North Bay beginning October 8, 2017, CAL FIRE communication operators took a lead role in first and emergency response. For weeks they worked 12-18-hour days and rarely saw a day off. Their roles expand far beyond answering 911 calls. To learn more about the role of CAL FIRE communications operators, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) invites you to view the video below.

“Much of the public doesn’t have a great grasp of what CAL FIRE communications operators do on a daily basis,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. “We found a lull in the fire activity in the North Bay when we could visit our com ops and catch up on what it was like to serve as first responders in such a horrific disaster. We thank them for their service, not just during what turned out to be a blaze-filled October, but year-round.”