August 2026

AMERICAN CANYON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

News Ladder

AUGUST 2026

A Message from the

CHIEF

As we move further into the heart of summer, I encourage you to join the American Canyon Fire Protection District and the American Canyon Police Department for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to meet your neighbors, connect with your local first responders, and strengthen the relationships that help make American Canyon a safe and resilient community.

Our commitment to excellence doesn't stop when the emergency calls slow down. This month has been filled with valuable training opportunities to ensure your firefighters remain prepared for today's evolving emergencies. From Waymo First Responder Training focused on autonomous vehicle technology (see pages 8&9), to a simulated oil spill exercise that strengthened our Hazardous Materials response capabilities (see page 12), to landing zone and helicopter operations training with Copter 11 (see page 10 & 11), our personnel continue to build the skills necessary to protect our community. These specialized exercises, along with our routine monthly training, ensure we are always ready to respond when you need us most.

As temperatures rise and vegetation continues to dry, I also want to remind everyone of the importance of maintaining defensible space around your home. Dead grass, overgrown vegetation, and accumulated brush can quickly fuel a fire and place homes, neighborhoods, and first responders at greater risk. Taking time now to clear and maintain your property is one of the most effective ways to help protect your family and our community throughout fire season.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the dedicated volunteers of the American Canyon Community Emergency Response Team (ACCERT). During last Saturday's vegetation fire, they responded without hesitation to assist our community. Their professionalism, commitment, and willingness to serve exemplify the very best of American Canyon. We are grateful to have such an outstanding team standing beside us in service to our residents.

Thank you for your continued support of the American Canyon Fire Protection District. We look forward to seeing you at National Night Out and throughout our community in the weeks ahead.

Cliff Campbell Acting Fire Chief American Canyon Fire Protection District

OPERATIONS DIVISION JULY

YTD

% of CALLS

FIRES

12

55

4%

MEDICAL AIDS

111

901

69%

HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

9

83

6%

GOOD INTENT CALLS

24

53

4%

FALSE ALARMS

9

100

7%

INCIDENT TYPE

TOTAL CALLS YTD

1,299

Operational report numbers are cumulative YTD. (As of 07/31/2026)

TRAINING DIVISION JULY TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS

371

MONTHLY TRAINING HOURS

3,798 YEAR TO DATE TRAINING HOURS

WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING USAR: LADDER SYSTEMS MEDICAL TRAINING: HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES Training data as of 07/31/2026.

USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Team Trains for Ladder Rescue Emergencies When a patient cannot safely walk to help, firefighters must bring the rescue to them.

Recently, AmCanFire personnel completed specialized ladder rescue systems training, practicing the safe removal of a patient from an elevated platform using a ground ladder and rescue basket (Stokes litter). This type of rescue demands careful planning, teamwork, and technical skill to safely move a patient while protecting both rescuers and the individual being evacuated.

Every member of the rescue team has a critical role.

Firefighters must stabilize the ladder, secure the patient, communicate every movement, and carefully control the descent. Even under ideal conditions, these rescues require precision. During an emergency—when time is limited and conditions may include smoke, fire, or structural damage— the importance of repetitive training becomes even greater.

Ladder rescue systems are an essential capability for fire departments. They provide a reliable means of removing victims from rooftops, upper-story windows, elevated structures, trenches, and other locations where conventional access is limited or unavailable.

These techniques are also valuable during natural disasters, industrial incidents, and technical rescue operations.

At AmCanFire, realistic training prepares our firefighters to perform under pressure. By continually practicing these advanced rescue techniques, our crews build the confidence, coordination, and proficiency needed to safely rescue those in need—no matter the height or complexity of the incident.

Training today ensures a safer rescue tomorrow.

Training for

Technology As transportation technology continues to evolve, so does the need for first responders to stay ahead of emerging challenges. American Canyon Fire Protection District, in partnership with the American Canyon Police Department, hosted Waymo First Responder Training for fire and law enforcement personnel from across Napa and Solano Counties.

The hands-on training provided emergency responders with practical experience interacting with autonomous vehicles, including identifying the vehicle's sensor systems, recognizing potential hazards, and understanding the procedures and technology designed to support emergency operations. Having the opportunity to work directly with a Waymo vehicle gave responders valuable real-world experience that cannot be replicated in a classroom.

The training also reinforced the importance of regional collaboration. By bringing together our mutual aid partners from across two counties, participants strengthened the relationships and interoperability that are essential during large-scale emergencies.

A special thank you to the Waymo team for providing both their technical experts and a vehicle for this interactive training. As technology continues to shape the future of transportation, AmCanFire remains committed to ensuring our firefighters are prepared with the knowledge and skills needed to protect our community—today and well into the future.

Left - Lt. Dudley and Acting Chief Campbell host the First Responder WAYMO training at the Public Safety Building.

Above - Members of Napa and Solano County Fire Departments train together to provide the highest level of service to their communities.

When the Sky Becomes the Lifeline

When every second counts, teamwork and training save lives.

Acting Chief Campbell recently joined the Copter 11 crew and firefighters from CAL FIRE/Napa County Fire for a series of helicopter landing zone training exercises at the Napa County Fire training grounds in Angwin and in Capell Valley.

The training focused on establishing safe landing zones, patient packaging and loading, aircraft operations, and clear communication between ground crews and the flight team.

Many emergencies occur in remote or difficult-toaccess areas where rapid transport to a trauma center can make a critical difference. Copter 11 is much more than a helicopter. It is a flying intensive care unit staffed by a highly skilled pilot, critical care flight nurse, and critical care flight paramedic.

This specialized team brings advanced critical care directly to the patient, providing lifesaving treatment long before arrival at the hospital.

Regular, hands-on training ensures our firefighters are prepared to work safely and efficiently alongside our air medical partners when our community needs us most.

A sincere thank you to the Copter 11 crew and our partners at CAL FIRE/Napa County Fire for their continued commitment to training, collaboration, and delivering the highest level of emergency care throughout Napa County.

Protecting Our Waterways: HazMat Team Trains for Oil Spill Response The Napa County Hazardous Materials Team recently conducted specialized training focused on oil spill response in the Napa River and surrounding waterways and tributaries.

While oil spills are infrequent, they can have significant impacts on wildlife, drinking water sources, recreation, and the environment, making preparedness essential.

This hands-on training brought together personnel, boats, containment equipment, and specialized resources from across the region to practice coordinated response techniques. Crews refreshed critical skills including deploying containment boom, protecting sensitive habitats, recovering petroleum products, and coordinating operations between multiple agencies.

Waterway emergencies present unique challenges that require specialized equipment and highly trained personnel. By training together before an emergency occurs, responders strengthen their ability to work seamlessly, protect natural resources, minimize environmental damage, and safeguard the health of our communities.

Thank you to all of our regional HazMat partners for their continued commitment to preparedness and environmental stewardship. Together, we are ready to respond when our waterways need us most.

ACCERT, American Canyon Community Response Team, is a program that educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live.

July was another active month for ACCERT. We started off by assisting the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce with Meet Me In The Streets on July 8th. On July 11th ACCERT had the privilege, along with Calistoga CERT, Del Valle CERT and Napa CERT of assisting the Calistoga Police Department by acting as victims for their Active Shooter Training. On July 25th we assisted the American Canyon Police Department and the American Canyon Fire Protection District by manning road blocks for the Dutch Flat Fire. Then to wrap up the month we assisted the Napa Sheriff’s Department with traffic control for the Wooden Valley Accident on July 26th.

Next General Membership Meeting Monday, August 10th @ 6:30 pm 225 James Rd, Station 211 To learn more about the 'Basic CERT Class' scan the QR Code

www.americancanyoncert.org

americancanyoncert

EXPLORER CORNER

Before the Badge On Tuesday, July 28, the American Canyon Fire Explorers attended the Fire District Board meeting to premiere Before the Badge, a documentary created by Fire Captain Rojas, the Explorer Program Advisor.

The film follows three current Fire Explorers as they pursue their dream of a career in the fire service, showcasing the dedication, integrity, physical fitness, and commitment required long before earning the badge.

Captain Rojas offers a unique perspective as a graduate of the American Canyon Fire Explorer Program himself, making this documentary especially meaningful.

We invite you to watch Before the Badge here:

BEFORE THE BADGE

911 DONALDSON WAY, E AMERICAN CANYON, CA 94503 AMCANFIRE.CA.GOV FACEBOOK.COM/AMCANFIRE INSTAGRAM.COM/AMCAN_FIRE (707) 551-0650 IN AN EMERGENCY DIAL 9-1-1