Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "jim doucette"

City, county faced grim year

2010-12-31T01:35:08Z

Sacramento’s city and county governments confronted grim budget situations throughout 2010. The city faced a $43 million budget gap, while the county struggled with a $181 million hole.

Local government employees felt the pain of budget cuts: Sacramento County laid off about 380 employees during the summer.

The county also slashed 29 positions in its engineering department in September. The county will no longer hire engineers for those spots.

City officials laid off 12 workers represented by Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 447, city spokeswoman Amy Williams said in September. The layoffs occurred after talks between the city and the union failed.

However, the city’s job loss situation could have been worse. City officials and Stationary Engineers Local 39 negotiated a contract during the summer that saved at least 80 jobs.

Budget cuts hit Sacramento’s Fire Department, but the blow was lighter than expected. The City Council decided in June to increase from one to two “rolling brownouts” for the department. An earlier plan called for four rolling brownouts.

The term “rolling brownouts” refers to taking certain fire trucks and engines out of service at various times, former Fire Department spokesman Jim Doucette said in June.

A variety of city programs faced cuts, including the city’s 311 information line and youth program.

Consolidations of several city departments and offices took place as well. Code Enforcement, formerly a department, became a division of the Community Development Department. Neighborhood Services became a division of the Parks and Recreation Department, while Human Resources joined with Labor Relations.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Bruises and beat-downs for a good cause

2010-08-25T00:31:16Z

It’s not often that bruises and beat-downs have anything positive associated with them.

But that’s exactly what will take place Aug. 28 at the seventh annual “Battle of the Badges” charity boxing fundraiser.

Police officers, correctional officers, and firefighters from throughout Northern California will step into the ring at Memorial Auditorium to duke it out all in the name of a good cause.

The event was founded in 2003 by correctional officers Israel Montes Jr. and Yvonne Vasquez of California State Prison-Sacramento before a third officer, Pablo Vasquez, joined the team. Vasquez passed away in 2007.

The annual tradition began as a small-scale event held at the Boys & Girls Club in downtown Sacramento and has outgrown the various halls and auditoriums used since then.

Montes said the event was started to “build camaraderie, unity and competitive sportsmanship among peace officers and firefighters” in addition to raising money and supporting what he call “worthy” local charities.

“The benefiting charities are chosen through careful consideration and at the recommendation of fighters. I want them to feel they are competing for a worthy cause,” Montes said.

Specific charities include beneficiaries from last year (The Firefighters Burn Institute, The Sac Fallen Officers Resource Fund and The Sacramento Sheriff’s Toy Project) along with new additions California Association of Highway Patrolmen Widows & Orphans’ Trust Fund and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Jim Doucette, executive director for the burn institute, said, “The Firefighters Burn Institute is very happy to be one of the charities that will benefit from this year’s Battle of the Badges. All of these charities do wonderful work for our community.”

Last year’s event,“The Raley Field Rumble,” raised approximately $10,000 for the benefiting charities and this year’s event is expected to raise even more.

Around 2,500-3,000 peace officers, firefighters, and family and friends are expected to fill the auditorium Saturday night.

There are approximately 15 fights lined up with three, two-minute rounds during each when Montes says the fighters will “battle fiercely representing their respective agencies.”

“We hope that all of the boxers do well, but of course we will be cheering for our firefighters!” Doucette said.

Before the action begins, there will be a pre-fight ceremony honoring fallen officers, firefighters and soldiers. The ceremony will include performances by the Sacramento Firefighters Pipes & Drums and the California State Prison-Sacramento Honor Guard.

On Friday night before the fights, weigh-ins and a pre-fight party will be held at Blue Cue and is open to the public, which Montes credits the event’s success to.

“This event would not be possible without the support of participants, sponsors, volunteers and fans,” Montes said.

Ticket prices are $40 for assigned floor-level ringside seating, $30 for lower-balcony/general seating, and $25 for upper-balcony general seating. Tickets can be purchased at the Sacramento Convention Center Box Office at 1301 L St. with no surcharge or at Tickets.com.

The Memorial Auditorium is located at 1515 J St.

Blue Cue is located at 1004 28th St.

See the complete fight card here.

For more information, visit the official Battle of the Badges website or Facebook page.

Photos from last year's "Raley Field Rumble" by Bob Knapik, restorem@surewest.net

Camp Concord to bring young burn survivors together

2010-08-06T00:25:02Z

Sunday, around 51 young burn survivors will trade in doctors, hospital visits, and burn treatments for a week of fun in the mountains.

Campers will swim, boat, hike, fish, rock-climb, and raft during the day. During the evenings, they will participate in campfire skits and songs, dancing, and a be able to catch a wild animal show.

Aug. 8 kicks offs opening day of the Firefighters Burn Institute’s (FFBI) Firefighter Kids Camp at Camp Concord in South Lake Tahoe. Established in the early 1990s, this year marks the camp’s 17th year.

Newly appointed FFBI Executive Director, Jim Doucette, said the best thing about the camp is that it “allows children to be amongst their peers. Burn injuries can be very traumatic, and it helps them to be around other children who have gone through the same horrible ordeals.”

Doucette, who recently retired from his role as the Sacramento Fire Department’s public information officer, has been involved with FFBI for around 25 years and is looking forward to playing “PIO for a day” at the Kids Camp during visitors’ day when media is invited.

The camp does not turn any child away who wishes to attend and, due to generous donations to FFBI, is free of charge.

Donations to the institute come from a mixture of private donations, fundraisers held by FFBI or on behalf of FFBI and through payroll deductions (including firefighter payroll deduction), which is how FFBI first began.

While the majority of the children come from California, Nevada and Oregon, the camp has hosted children from as far away as China, Switzerland and Mexico.

Campers are between the ages of 7 and 17 and, as long as they have completed the first grade, can be accepted as young as 6 years old.

“All of these campers have had serious burn injuries, some worse than others,” Doucette said. “But I can honestly say that in my years of working with FFBI and meeting many ‘burn survivors,” they are truly the most remarkable people I have ever met.”

While some of the childrens’ injuries hinder their ability to participate in some camp activities, the volunteers (including firefighters and Shriners Hospital for Children staff) have set up camp to include them in as many activities as possible.

“A lot of these people have literally gone through hell and survived. They typically love life and want to make the most out of [it],” Doucette said.

The FFBI’s mission is to provide recovery programs to burn survivors of all ages, promote fire and burn prevention through public education, fund scholarships and support burn treatment and rehabilitation research.

Although the camp only lasts for a week, the memories and friendships often continue on.

“Many of the the kids do stay in touch. Some have been to numerous camps, and some event become camp counselors when they are old enough,” Doucette said.

He said the camp often leaves an impact on more than just the campers, however.

“You realize that what problems you thought you had, they aren’t really problems at all!”

To find out how to volunteer or donate to the camp, contact coordinator Catharine Shaw at 916-739-8525.

Learn more about the Firefighters Burn Institute, visit their website.

Photos: Campers from previous years, courtesy of Firefighters Kids Camp

Doucette retires, takes job at Burn Institute

2010-07-22T22:59:48Z

All his life, Sacramento Fire Department Capt. Jim Doucette wanted to be a police officer.

Until he got a job as a firefighter.

Doucette said he was initially afraid of being a firefighter, knowing he would see more traumatic injuries than a police officer, but once he got involved with the fire department, he fell in love with the job.

After more than 30 years in the fire service, Doucette announced his retirement last week.

The official date is Aug. 24, after which he will take a vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and spend some time in Boise, Ida., to visit family.

“It has been a very long career, and one that I will surely miss,” Doucette wrote in a post on The Sacramento Press.

He said Monday that he will miss the pride he felt in telling people he is a captain for the Sacramento Fire Department.

“I’m very proud of that...but now I’ll be telling them I’m a retired captain, and that’s something I’m proud of too,” Doucette said.

Since 2006, Doucette served as the public information officer for the department, and it was something of a natural fit for his personality.

“I love the Fire Department, and I love to talk. People can’t shut me up,” he said.

Battalion Chief Niko King held the information officer position before Doucette and characterized Doucette as always being calm.

“His whole mission was to always get the word out to the public about the fire service and what we do and the great men and women in this profession, and that’s exactly what he did,” King said.

King admitted to sometimes getting frustrated with some of the questions when he was dealing with the media, but said Doucette was always patient and never lost his cool or got frazzled.

Doucette was hired as a volunteer firefighter for the Pacific Fire District in 1979, and began working for Sacramento when the smaller district was absorbed by the Sacramento Fire Department in 1991.

By the time he was 29, Doucette was already a captain, and he led his company on many of the major fires in Sacramento over the next 15 years.

“I do miss the station life and the camaraderie and going to work every day and playing and working together,” Doucette said. “It’s a full day, and it’s like being at home, except it’s a lot of work.”

Doucette will start a new job as executive director for the Firefighters Burn Institute, an organization he has been involved with for 25 years.

“It’s a firefighter-based charity, and in my humble opinion, its gotten stagnant in some ways,” Doucette said. “I would like to see more firefighters get involved, and I’d like to see the community get more involved.”

Lincoln Fire Department Chief Dave Whitt worked with Doucette in Sacramento and said he has a good, level head on his shoulders and is often the voice of common sense and reason.

“He’s always been a strong leader in any organization he’s been responsible for,” Whitt said. “I think it will be a good move not only for the Burn Institute, but for him. He’s been at pretty busy fire stations for most of his career, and that takes its toll on your body.”

The institute was founded by Sacramento Fire Department Capt. Cliff Haskell in 1973, about a year after the tragedy at Farrell’s ice cream parlor on Freeport Avenue when an airplane crashed into the shop, killing more than 20 people. A Sacramento firefighter and his family were among the victims.

“That’s when Cliff went to work,” Doucette said. “Burn units are a financial strain on the medical community, and I’ve heard stories of people all over the country treated at small hospitals where they don’t have the training to treat burns.”

Retired Stockton Fire Department Capt. Oscar Barrera has worked with Doucette for a number of years through the Burn Institute and said he will be a great fit as executive director.

“He’s a great guy,” Berrera said. “He’s going to be a good asset to the Burn Institute...It’s going to keep the Burn Institute heading in the right direction.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Photos courtesy of Jim Doucette.

What does Disney Radio and brush fire have in common?

2009-07-16T07:37:11Z

Sacramento, CA- Were you listening to Disney Radio Wednesday and wondered why all of a sudden it dropped off?

At about 11:51 A.M. Wednesday morning, Sac Fire received a call for a vegetation fire in the wild land are off of Commerce Circle and Lathrop Way. This area is located between Discovery Park and the Cal Expo area, just west of The Radisson Hotel and bordered by the bike trail on the south side of the levee.

Firefighters arrived to find difficult terrain to access off the levee, but were able to attack the fire within ten minutes of the call.

In this wild land area were three radio towers over 200 feet high belonging to ABC Radio. One of the tower's collapsed and a witness stated that when the guide wires from the tower snapped, it sounded like gun fire. Captain Doucette of the Sacramento Fire Department stated, "A small building at the base of the collapsed tower was destroyed by the fire. The building housed radio equipment." The second tower was damaged and leaning during most of the blaze. Firefighters were on guard working around the second tower; in the event guide wires broke loose.

Firefighters had to shuttle water back and forth to the fire. Doucette noted that heat was a factor for the firefighters fighting the blaze.

While the cause for the fire is still under investigation, Captain Doucette stated, "The Investigator is looking into the possibility that something electrical inside the building caused the fire, but it is not known at this time."

Deer lands through family truck windshield near downtown

2009-07-07T23:11:06Z

Tony Pineea and his four sons got a big shock when a deer landed in their windshield.

Tony Pineea was traveling North on Highway 160 out of downtown Sacramento Tuesday morning with his four sons when a deer emerged from the light rail area adjacent to the highway and jumped in front of their pickup truck at the Del Paso exit.

The deer hit so hard in the windshield area that the windshield broke through and collapsed in. The driver only sustained very minor injuries and refused transport to the hospital. Per Pineea, his sons were seatbelted and uninjured.

The deer did attempt to run off, however it was too severely injured. An on scene CHP officer had to euthanize the deer on site to end its suffering from unrecoverable injuries. The Del Paso off ramp was closed for a short time.

Per Captain Doucette of the Sacramento City Fire Department, deer do commonly roam that area this time of year and an occasional mountain lion can be seen.

Brush fire delays south area Light Rail

2009-07-02T23:52:45Z

Sacramento, CA- Early Thursday after noon, a small blaze broke out off of Hing Avenue, near Franklin and 47th. The fire was contained to the dry field area between the homes and railroad tracks.

Light Rail service was minimally impacted. Trains were briefly delayed during the high part of the blaze then permitted to move through at a reduced speed due to limited visibility resulting from heavy smoke, per on scene RT rail worker.

Several structure firefighting engines were in place to protect the homes along the field, while brush rigs and crews moved through the field to attack the fire and bring it under control. Per Captain Doucette, the cause of the fire is unknown.

Midtown dumpster fire escalates to garage fire and threatens apartments

2009-06-13T15:38:12Z

Sacramento Midtown apartments were threatened earlier this morning when a dumpster fire spread to the large all wood garage surrounded by the apartments.

Firefighters were called to the rear of 1015 26th in the alley for a "dumpster fire" Engine four arrived on scene quickly, just five minutes from the time the call came in to 911. When they arrived the garage was well involved with fire. The two dumpsters on fire were pulled away from the garage and after gaining access the firefighters made an aggressive attack, knocking down the blaze.

While the major part of the fire was immediately taken care of, some fire remained in the eves and roofing. Due to remodels and several layers of siding, firefighters had a challenge getting the fire completely extinguished immediately, but kept it under control and from spreading to the adjacent apartments.

The early morning fire hailed a compliment of five engines, three truck companies, one HazMat Company, two Medic Units, five Command/Support staff and 50 firefighters.

In a press release, Capt. Doucette stated, "A Sacramento Fire Department Haz Mat Team was called out to monitor the water run off."

There were no injuries in this incident however the cause is under investigation. Short after the fire, "the person of interest" was sighted down the street going through dumpsters.

Pocket Fire Blaze impacts two homes, one destroyed the other damaged

2009-06-12T03:57:20Z

Two homes caught fire Thursday around 2:51 p.m. As firefighters arrived, the fence between the two homes was completely on fire and the side of the two story home on the left was well involved. The second home (one story), caught fire and burned into the attic.

There was an initial report that victims may have been in the home. The first in engine crew executed a search of the home and no one was found.

In the end, the two story home experienced a partial roof collapse while firefighters were inside. Firefighters pulled out and went into defensive mode to save the one story home and protect other surrounding exposures. The two story was a total loss and the one story home had fire damage in the attic and back bedroom as well as contents.

SacCity Firefighters were on scene in less than five minutes from the time of the call. Deputy Fire Chief Lloyd Ogan stated that weather definantly played a factor with the Delta Breeze picking up.

In a press release, Acting Battalion Chief, Jim Doucette stated, "There were no reported injuries and Sacramento Fire Department Investigators are on scene trying to determine the cause of the blaze. Additional Firefighters from Sacramento Metro and Cosumnes Fire also responded." A total of 75 firefighters and 4 command staff were engaged on this incident.

House fire under investigation

2009-06-06T01:34:27Z

At 2:54 p.m., Thursday afternoon, Sacramento City Firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire. When they arrived they found a two story home well involved.

Per Capt. Jim Doucette, the occupants were out of the house when firefighters arrived, however the family dog was not located. The fire started on the ground level, per Doucette, and the occupants did not know how the fire started. Doucette did mention that the fire is under investigation and that the occupants would not be able to occupy the home.

There were no injuries and surrounding structures were not threatened.