Firefighters Summer Olympic games kick off in O.C.

July 11th, 2011, 12:56 pm · 3 Comments · posted by Laylan Connelly, staff writer

It’s all about the camaraderie. And of course, the friendly rivalry.

The annual Firefighter Summer Olympics kicked off this week, with firefighters from around California coming to Orange County to compete in 32 events.

The Firefighter Summer Olympics – which have been going on for about three decades – alternates between Northern and Southern California each year, with the Newport Beach Fire Department hosting this year’s festivities. Agencies from as far north as Sacramento are competing.

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There’s pretty much every type of competition you can think of – from surfing, rock climbing, paintball, flag football and dodgeball, and even a poker competition.

Sam Szczepanek from Santa Barbara County Fire Department scored with 3- to 5-foot waves at Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach after his surfing heat. The surf portion – which has 85 firefighters competing – continues Tuesday with the longboarder contest.

“This is great, it brings all the department together,” said Szczepanek, who has entered the contest three years. “You see a lot of new and familiar faces. Everyone is a little competitive, you want to win. But at the same time, you want to have fun.”

The contests get the firefighters out of their uniforms, and for many this event becomes their summer vacation.

“We got some nice waves, and there’s some really good surfers out there,” said Grant Parsons, of the Newport Beach Fire Department.

Not all of the events are in Orange County. Some are held in nearby San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

For more info on the events: www.firefighterolympics.org.

More Orange County beach news:

Dana Point Police Services Again Honored by Int’l Association of Chiefs of Police

Logo for Dana Point’s Hide It, Lock It, Or Lose It campaign

Dana Point Police Services has been notified that it will be honored once again by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, this time for its success in fighting car theft.
Lieutenant Mark Levy, Dana Point Chief of Police Services said the latest award is related to the first award the IACP awarded.
Last year the International Association of Chiefs of Police honored the Dana Point Police Services Community Service Unit (CSU). They were selected as a top 25 semi-finalist from around the globe in the competition for the coveted IACP/Motorola Webber Seavey Award for Quality in Law Enforcement. The “Hide It, Lock It, Or Lose It” campaign was one of the key programs reviewed by IACP when giving the award last year.
To read a Department Blog story about the earlier award click here.
This year Dana Point Police Services will receive the Category 1 2011 Vehicle Theft Award of Merit. The number of car thefts in the city dropped from 43 in 2009 to 28 in 2010. For the first five months of the year the number of car thefts dropped from 13 in 2010 to 10 in 2011.
Lieutenant Levy said the drop in car thefts is a side benefit to the city’s Hide It, Lock It, Or Lose It campaign. That campaign was aimed at reducing car burglaries and was instrumental in the city being honored last year by the IACP. The more residents and visitors locked their cars and hid their valuables, the fewer cars were stolen, he said.

Community Service Officer Cassie Levine recruits another volunteer in the city’s Hide It, Lock It, Or Lose It campaign

Sheriff Thanks Many for Success of Make-A-Wish Cruise

Dozens of children with life-threatening medical conditions, along with their families, were hosted on the water in Newport Beach harbor on July 4.  Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol helped coordinate the event, which included a pancake breakfast at American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 and a hot dog lunch aboard the Electra Cruises vessel Eternity. The youngsters, who were invited to the event by the Make-A-Wish Founation of Orange County and the Inland Empire, had a front row seat aboard the Eternity to view the Newport Harbor Fourth of July Boat Parade.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens with two children arriving by boat for the pancake breakfast Photos by Professional Services Responder Randy Frager

 

Among those at the pancake breakfast were Michael and JoAnn Sweig, of the Sheriff’s Advisory Council, who were given a special award by the Make-A-Wish Foundation for their generous support of the children.

Michael Sweig is honored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Hutchens also thanked a long list of firms, groups and organizations for making the event possible.

 

Among those who helped were Vornado Realty Trust, Davenport Partners and Ace Parking Management for discounting parking fees for the Wish families and the volunteer workers. The Anaheim Lady Ducks Hockey Club helped to entertain the families on the cruise.  The Glider Creek Bank provided music. The Sea Gals of the American Legion coordinated the activities at the American Legion, including breakfast, entertainment and goodie bags.  The American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 provide the waterside facility for the annual breakfast for the children and their families. Make-A-Wish Orange County & Inland Empire Office coordinated the day’s events and provided volunteer workers and entertainers. Electra Cruises provided the cruise vessel Eternity, along with lunch and refreshments.  The crew and staff of Eternity donated their time to prepare and serve food and help host the event.  Deputies, Reserve Deputies and Explorers all pitched in to help out at the event.

For plenty more pictures click below

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Categories: Harbor Patrol | In the Community | Sheriff Hutchens
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