SACRAMENTO – On December 9, 2020 the Fire Marshal Emergency Services Association (FMESA) board of directors held its fourth quarter board meeting. FMESA is comprised of public safety personnel from the Office of State Fire Marshal, CALFIRE, and Cal OES, as well firefighters at California State facilities.   These professionals t have been tremendously busy responding to COVID-19. Given the tough schedules the directors have, this was the first meeting for FMESA in a year.

BJ Jones, a Law Enforcement Coordinator for Cal OES, is president of FMESA and conducted the meeting via teleconference.  In attendance was Cal OES Communications Coodinator Chad Stokes, Deputy State Fire Marshals Aaron Greer, Leslie Compton and Chrystal Sujeski, Fire Coordinator with OES Javier Lara, and Cal Fire Communications Operator Shelly Putnam. Deputy State Fire Marshal Caryn Petty joined to help update the board on old business as well as to introduce Aaron Greer as her VP replacement. Also, in attendance were CSLEA Supervising Counsel Dave De La Riva and Senior Counsel Andrea Perez.

During the meeting FMESA directors caught up on old business as well as allowed the directors to discuss their concerns regarding COVID -19 and the likelihood of FMESA members getting priority for the vaccine. There was also conversation about how to keep FMESA members updated on what FMESA and CSLEA are doing for members, and ideas on how to increase transparency and communication in order to increase membership.

“Thank you to the FMESA Board and our members for your patience, as I learn the ropes as FMESA president,” said Jones.  “Our CSLEA affiliate is comprised of an amazing group of law enforcement and public safety professionals and we will rise to every occasion in representing and protecting you.”