AUTHORS
TIM ADAMS is a Captain with the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department and is currently assigned to the Training Division as the Drill Master (Recruit Training Leader). He is a second generation firefighter with 27 years experience. During his 24 years with the City of Sacramento, he has frequently seen duty at the Training Division as a training officer and adjunct instructor for new recruits, and has trained the city's acting captains in engine company operations. Tim is and adjunct instructor with DC Dave McGrail's (Denver, CO) highrise group. Tim is a past Vice-President of the NorCal FOOLS.
MATT BARNES is a Battalion Chief with the Southern Marin (CA) Fire District. He has spent over 14 years in the fire service, holds an A.S. degree in fire science and a B.A. in Kinesiology and is a certified California state fire instructor. Matt is an adjunct instructor for Southern Marin Fire District’s Live Fire Training and Firefighter Survival and Rapid Intervention Program. He is a member of the NorCal FOOLS and resides in Novato, California, with his wife Nicole and their two children.
ERIC HANKINS is a 15year veteran of the Fire Service starting in 1991 as a cadet with the Meridian Fire District. Eric has worked for Yuba City (CA) Fire Department since 2000. Currently assigned to the “B” shift as a Captain on Engine 1, Eric is a member of the Haz-Mat, Advanced Technical Rescue, and Tactical EMS Teams. Eric is also an Instructional Assistant with the Yuba College Fire and Police Academies. He is married to his wife of 10 years Michelle and has two daughters, Mary age 6 and Sarah, 4 who was born on the morning of the 9-11 attacks. Eric is a past Secretary of the NorCal FOOLS and serves on the FOOLS International E-Board.
JASON BARKER Jason has been involved in fire and emergency service for 18 years. He is currently employed by the Dixon (CA) Fire Department, where he is a Firefighter/Paramedic, acting company officer and assists with the department’s engine company training program. Jason is a State Fire Marshal Instructor and is charter member of the Sacramento FOOLS, now the Norcal FOOLS, where he holds a position on the training committee. Jason also serves as a Fire Captain with the volunteer company where he lives in rural Yolo County.
ERIC GUIDA is a Captain with Sacramento (CA) Fire Department with 17 years of experience and is currently assigned to Engine 1 in the downtown district. Eric has served on their USAR team since it's inception in 1992 and responded to the Northridge, Oklahoma City, Atlanta and New York City incidents. Eric has served as a drill instructor for three Recruit Academies (1999, 2000, 2001). Eric is the past and 1st President of the NorCal FOOLS.
BOB LEONARD started in the fire service as a seasonal firefighter for the California Department of Forestry in 1984. In 1986, he was hired by Yuba City (CA) Fire Department, a combination department. In 1990, he left Yuba City Fire Department to join San Jose (CA) Fire Department and has been there ever since. He is currently a Captain, working relief out of Battalion 10 and teaches at the Recruit Academy in San Jose. He is also the chairman of the Engine Company Committee for San Jose Fire Department. Bob is the past Secretary for the NorCal FOOLS. Bob is also an instructor with the NGLB Training Group of Lee and Associates.
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BILLY LEWIS is a Firefighter with the Sacramento Fire (CA) Department. Billy began his fire service career in 1991 as a volunteer and seasonal Firefighter with Sutter County Fire Department. In 1996 he was hired with Yuba City Fire Department where he served on both the Haz-Mat and Advanced Technical Rescue teams. In past years Billy has been an Instructors assistant with both Butte College Fire Academy and Yuba College Fire Academy. Billy was hired with the Sacramento Fire Department in 2004 where he is a member of the departments Hazardous Materials Team. Billy works on Engine 30, one of the city’s Haz-Mat stations in Natomas Park. When Billy is scheduled to ride the ambulance as a Paramedic he is assigned to Medic 56 in South Sacramento. Billy will argue that Medic 56 is the overall busiest medic in the world. Billy is a member of the NorCal Fools and lives in Elk Grove. Billy is the current Operations Officer/Vice-President of the NorCal FOOLS.
MIKE CLUMPNER is a Firefighter for the Charlotte Fire Department assigned to Engine Co. 8. He also works part-time as a Flight Paramedic with Regional-One Air Medical Service in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He has been involved in the fire service for thirteen years, with ten of those years as a firefighter/paramedic. He has an Associate’s of Science in EMS, an Associate’s of Science in Fire Science, a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Elon University. He is a graduate of the EMS Management Institute at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is also a North Carolina State certified Paramedic Level II Instructor-Coordinator and has held faculty positions at four colleges teaching emergency services.
SCOTT McKINNEY is a Firefighter with Sacramento City (CA) Fire Department and is currently assigned to Truck 6 in the Oak Park District. His fire service career began in 1993 as a seasonal firefighter with the California Department of Forestry (Cal-Fire). In 1995 he became a Reserve Firefighter with the City of Sacramento and then became a Paramedic in 1998. He is a member of the Sacramento Urban Search and Rescue Team (CA TF-7) and is a member of the SFD training committee. He is married to his wife of 7 years, Toni and has a 4 year old son Aiden. Scott has been a member of the NorCal FOOLS since 2004 and is the current Logistics Officer of the E-Board and served on the chapters’ charity committee.
BOB PRESSLER (Ret) a 23-year veteran of the fire service, is a retired Lieutenant with Rescue Company 3 of the Fire Department of New York. He created and produced the videos Peaked-Roof Ventilation and SCBA Safety and Emergency Procedures for the Fire Engineering video series "Bread and Butter" Operations. Pressler has and associate's degree in fire protection engineering from Oklahoma State University, is a frequent instructor on a wide range of fire service topics, and is a member of a volunteer department.
KEVIN TROST (ret) a 25 year veteran of the Fire Service, is a Truck Company Officer with the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department. He holds a B. A. Degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University with an Associates of Arts Degree in Fire Science from Delta College. Additionally, he is a California State Certified Fire Instructor, and Chief Officer. Captain Trost holds additional certificates in Water Rescue, Rescue Systems, Hazardous Materials, and Command. He is a former Conference Coordinator, lead instructor for Truck Company Operations, and Advisory Board Member for FDIC. In 2001, Captain Trost was presented the FDIC West Service Award from PennWell Publishing, publishers of Fire Engineering Magazine, and sponsors of FDIC, for his commitment and contributions to Fire Service training. He has held the positions of Drill Instructor, Drill Master, and Training Officer for the Sacramento Fire Department Recruit Academy and Training Division. Captain Trost has extensive policy development with 2in/2out, RIC, Fireground SOG’s, ICS, and High-Rise operations. Captain Trost promotes the concept of P.R.I.D.E. in the Fire Service; Personnel-Responding to-Incidents-Dedicated to-Excel.
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TOM BRENNAN who passed away on April 20, 2006, had more than 35 years of fire service experience, having responded to 33,000 fire alarms. His career spanned more than 20 years with the Fire Department of New York as well as four years as chief of the Waterbury (Conn.) Fire Department. He had a bachelor of science degree, summa cum laude, John Jay College; Alumnus of the Year Award, John Jay College; was chairman of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association and a charter member of the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Service Section. He had delivered courses and seminars throughout the United States and had instructed at the National Fire Academy. He was the editor of Fire Engineering Magazine for eight years, later was a technical editor, and his column “Random Thoughts,” was a regular monthly feature. He was co-editor of The Fire Chief’s Handbook, Fifth Edition. He was the recipient of the 1998 Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award.
STEVE BEGLEY is a Apparatus Operator with the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department and has been with the department since 1999. He is currently assigned to Rescue 20 in the Del Paso Heights district. Steve has been a member of Sacramento's US&R team for the past five years. Steve has an Associates of Science degree in Psychology and Fire Science as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Safety Management from Madison University. Steve is a certified California State Fire Marshal Fire Instructor-I. Steve was a charter member of the Sacramento FOOLS, now the NorCal FOOLS. Steve resides in Dixon, Ca with his wife Cindy and their children Kyla and Jacob. Steve is a past Trustee with the NorCal FOOLS.
SHANE SMITH Shane began his career in 1991 as a professional firefighter in Southern CA and a member of his departments USAR Team, Shane moved to Southern Idaho where he worked as a Firefighter and later became a Paramedic. In Jan. 2003, Shane and his family moved to Western Washington where Shane is currently a Firefighter with South King Fire assigned to fire station 62 in Federal Way. Shane is an active member of South King Fire’s Technical Rescue Team, as well as, a member of the Washington State FEMA USAR Task Force. He has been a Puget Sound FOOL since 2002 and currently serves his chapter as Treasurer
DAVID BALDWIN is a Captain with the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department and has been in the fire service for 23 years, 16 with Sacramento Fire. David is currently assigned to Engine 16 in the Meadowview district. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Safety Management from Madison University, an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science Technology from Sierra College, and is a California Certified Fire Instructor-I. He has been a drill instructor at the Sacramento Regional Fire Academy, and is currently a drill instructor at the Sierra College Regional Fire Academy. David is a member of the Sacramento Urban Search & Rescue Team and his deployments include: the Oklahoma City Bombing, Atlanta Olympic Games, World Trade Center and New Orleans for hurricane Katrina. David is the current President of the NorCal FOOLS.
FRANK VILLALPANDO is a 17 year veteran of the fire service starting with Donner Summit (CA) Fire Department. He also spent three seasons with Cal Fire before joining Sacramento (CA) Fire Department. His current assignment is Rescue 20 A shift. Before that he was with Young America Company Engine 6 on the A shift. Frank is the current Planning Officer for the NorCal FOOLS E-Board.
SCOTT O'BRIEN is a Firefighter with Sacramento (CA) Fire Department and has been with the department since 2002. Scott earned a degree in Exercise Physiology from California State University Chico where he competed in Track & Field earning All American Honors in the discus and still holds the school record. Scott went on to work with colligate athletes and coached one to a National Championship. Scott currently works on Engine 16 in the Meadow View District and is a current member of the NorCal FOOLS.
ANDREW FREDERIKCS The late ANDREW FREDERICKS was a firefighter in the City of New York (NY) Fire Department (FDNY) assigned to Squad Company 18 in Manhattan, one of five squad companies high inside the First World Trade Center tower rescuing people when it collapsed on September 11, 2001. A member of the fire service for 21 years, Mr. Fredericks was a New York State certified fire instructor (Level II) at the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Pomona, NY, an adjunct instructor at the New York State Academy of Fire Science, a field instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute, an instructor for the New York State Association of Fire Chief's, and an adjunct lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Mr. Fredericks was co-author of FDNY's engine company operations manual. He was a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Fire Engineering and the FDIC Educational Advisory Board. He was president of Andrew A. Fredericks & Associates, Inc., a firm specializing in municipal fire service training and consulting. Mr. Fredericks held a bachelor of arts in political science, a bachelor of science in public safety/fire science, and a master's degree in fire protection management.
JOHN HOFMAN: serves as the Strength and Conditioning Coach the Sacramento (CA) Fire Department for the past 3 years. He holds a M.S. degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas - Permian Basin. Additionally, he is Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Coach Hofman holds additional certifications as an USA Sports Performance Coach and USA Track & Field Level 1 Coach. Along with his duties as Coach for Sacramento Fire Department he is also works as the strength & conditioning coach for both American River College Fire Academy and Sierra College Fire Technology Program.
