San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters Local 935
IAFF Local 935 is a labor organization that represents the men and women of the San Bernardino County Fire Departments in Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, Colton, Loma Linda, and Montclair.
The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 935 is the labor organization that represents the men and women of the San Bernardino County Firefighters and the affiliate membership of the Colton, Loma Linda, Big Bear, and Montclair Fire Departments.
The Fire Fighters of Local 935 pride themselves on over 100 years of service to the communities within San Bernardino County. Each year, Local 935 Firefighters give their time and money to the local communities to foster relationships and serve those with special needs.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the 21st century.
We’re more than just a union; we’re a movement, a brotherhood and sisterhood that is powering advancements in fire and emergency services in the United States, Canada, and around the world.
With offices in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa, Ontario, the IAFF is the fire service’s strongest voice at the federal level. Our Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, is among the top one-half of 1% of all federally registered PACs in the United States.
Today, 85% of communities across the U.S. and Canada are protected by our over 365,000 members.
APPARATUS SPOTLIGHT | WATER TENDER 42 | YUCCA VALLEY
Photo credit: @ietoocfirephotos
What happens when firefighters need water and there is no hydrant nearby? A water tender can bring additional water to the scene.
Water Tender 42 in Yucca Valley is this week's apparatus spotlight, and a good reason to look beyond the hose line at the water supply behind it.
Getting water to the fire is a job of its own. The public may notice the flames and the firefighters applying water first, but supplying that water is another essential part of the response.
These photos put that work in the spotlight. For Local 935, telling the fire service story also means recognizing the people handling the jobs that are less visible in an incident video.
What have you wondered about how firefighters get water when there is no nearby hydrant?
Photos: @ietoocfirephotos. Thank you for showcasing County Fire apparatus.
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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Three firefighters. Miles of desert highway.
Medic Engine 52 responded to a truck fire on southbound Interstate 15 at Fort Irwin Road on the evening of October 25. These photos show the conditions firefighters faced.
Station 52 in Harvard is staffed by a full-time, three-person crew: a captain, an engineer and a firefighter-paramedic. Across the desert, long distances between communities and fire stations create a different kind of response challenge along the I-15 corridor toward Las Vegas and Interstate 40.
A three-person engine company has to balance several jobs at once. At a complex highway emergency, that can include establishing command, operating the engine and water supply, deploying hose, and providing patient care. When an incident involves multiple patients, a crew with one paramedic faces additional demands while more help travels to the scene.
Regional resources and cooperating agencies are important to that system, including County Fire resources in Helendale and Baker and partners such as Barstow Fire and Marine Corps Logistics Base fire personnel. Those resources may have significant distances to cover while their own communities still need emergency services.
Large truck fires can also require extended work to reach concealed burning material. When needed and available, heavy equipment can be provided through Caltrans or County Fire's operators.
Local 935's goal is four-person staffing to give engine companies another firefighter for the work that must happen simultaneously. In a region where additional resources can be many miles away, staffing is part of both effective emergency response and maintaining service for the next call.
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PHOTO OF THE DAY | APRIL 9, 2026 | A CONVERSATION, NOT A CALL
Not every connection with County Fire starts with an emergency. Sometimes it starts with a question across a table.
This archive photo captures a conversation beside a training display. The equipment may catch someone's attention, but the person on the other side of the table matters just as much. A few minutes to listen, explain the work and meet face to face can make the uniform feel a little more familiar.
Local 935 values these everyday connections with the communities our members serve. There is room in our story for the quieter moments, too.
Have you had a memorable conversation with a firefighter at a station visit or community event? What stayed with you? Please leave personal medical details out of the comments.
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 935, proudly endorses Virginia Marquez for San Bernardino City Council, Ward 1, in the November 3 election. #Local935 ...
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Training today for the calls ahead
Several Division 5 engine companies came together today for hands-on vehicle extrication training, with three vehicles provided by Desert Valley Towing. Positioned on their wheels, side and roof, the vehicles gave newer firefighters different challenges to work through alongside experienced crews.
On the side-resting vehicle, crews used Rescue 42 struts for stabilization, then practiced cutting roof-support pillars along one side and rolling the roof back. On the upright vehicle, they removed all four doors and the roof before displacing the dashboard to create additional room.
A controlled training environment gives firefighters time to compare approaches, observe how a vehicle responds and learn why one technique may work better than another. It is an opportunity to practice, evaluate and refine those skills before applying them at a collision.
Crews used both AMKUS hose-fed hydraulic equipment and HURST battery-powered tools. Both systems use hydraulic force. The difference is where that power comes from: the AMKUS tools connect by hose to an external power unit, while the battery-powered HURST tools carry their motor and hydraulic pump onboard.
The AMKUS GH2B power unit can operate two compatible tools simultaneously. Cordless tools eliminate the external hydraulic hoses and separate power unit at the tool, offering flexibility when moving around a vehicle. Each system brings different setup and equipment-management considerations, making familiarity with both valuable when companies work together.
Tools also serve different purposes: cutters separate vehicle components, spreaders create openings, and rams push components away to make space. The HURST R 521 ram, for example, extends to approximately 53.5 inches.
There is no single approach for every collision. Vehicle position, damage and the patient's condition guide the rescue plan. The goal is to create access for treatment and a path for removal, taking the vehicle away from the patient rather than forcing an injured person through a confined opening.
Thank you to Desert Valley Towing for providing the vehicles and supporting this hands-on training.
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San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 935, proudly endorses Joe Salas for San Bernardino City Council, Ward 4, in the November 3 election. #Local935 ...
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PHOTOS OF THE DAY | JULY 13, 2025 | NEEDLES AIRPORT AREA
At approximately 9:37 p.m., Local 935 members and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to a reported fire in the desert near Needles Airport. A deputy arrived first and found a single-engine Piper aircraft fully involved in fire, allowing the call to be upgraded and responding fire companies to receive critical information before arrival.
Firefighters advanced hose lines into the dark desert, attacked the aircraft fire and prevented the flames from spreading into nearby brush. A water tender from Mohave Valley Fire Department in Arizona supported the suppression effort. Tragically, both aircraft occupants died in the crash. We extend our condolences to their families and loved ones. The Sheriff’s Aviation Division led the investigation.
This archival post is not a current incident alert. It demonstrates the challenges faced by Local 935 members serving the North Desert and Colorado River communities, including remote access, darkness, limited water supplies, extreme travel distances and the need to coordinate resources across state and jurisdictional lines. Reliable staffing, strategically located apparatus and water-tender capability are essential when emergencies occur far from additional resources.
AIRCRAFT EMERGENCY SAFETY: Never approach a crash site. Aircraft may contain fuel, batteries, pressurized systems and other hazards. Keep a safe distance, avoid smoke, call 911 and leave access routes open for emergency vehicles.
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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PHOTOS OF THE DAY | JULY 14, 2025 | INTERSTATE 15 NEAR BAKER
Local 935 members responded to a tractor-trailer fire on Interstate 15 near Baker involving approximately 25,000 pounds of tires. Thick black smoke, burning rubber, limited water supplies and temperatures near 120 degrees created an exceptionally demanding incident for firefighters working along a remote desert corridor.
The response generated a major traffic backup. County Fire moved additional ambulances and support units into the area to assist motorists affected by the closure and extreme heat. Crews continued through mop-up, the southbound lanes remained open, and the northbound backup extended approximately 15 miles. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.
This archival incident is not a current traffic or fire alert. It illustrates the all-risk demands placed on North Desert crews. The I-15 and I-40 corridors carry heavy passenger and commercial traffic through long stretches with limited water and extended travel distances. Adequate staffing, strategically located stations, dependable apparatus, water-tender capability and medical surge resources are essential when a single vehicle fire becomes a regional transportation and heat emergency.
FREEWAY SAFETY: Slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles. Never drive through smoke, do not stop to photograph an incident, and keep emergency lanes open. In desert heat, carry water and maintain enough fuel to safely manage unexpected delays.
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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PHOTOS OF THE DAY | JULY 16, 2025 | 300 BLOCK OF BOWMAN TRAIL, LANDERS
At approximately 4:45 p.m., Local 935 members responded to a well-involved residential structure fire in the South Desert community of Landers. The first engine from Yucca Mesa Station 42 found smoke and flames coming from the front of the home.
As the first crew prepared to begin its fire attack, a non-compliant resident created a safety issue and sheriff’s deputies had to secure the scene. Firefighters temporarily held at a safe position. Once deputies cleared the hazard, crews began suppression operations. They then encountered downed electrical lines, adding another serious hazard to the incident. The fire was knocked down at approximately 5:30 p.m., about 30 minutes after the first company arrived, and crews remained for extensive overhaul and mop-up.
Emergency scenes can change in seconds. This response illustrates why firefighters continuously reassess conditions and adjust tactics as unforeseen hazards develop, protecting the public, patients and one another while continuing to move the incident toward control.
Firefighters rescued the occupant’s dog from the home. The resident was treated for injuries sustained before fire and law-enforcement personnel arrived, then transported by helicopter to a regional trauma center. No firefighters were injured. Two BLM engines and a battalion chief assisted.
This archival incident is not a current fire alert. It demonstrates why dependable staffing, reliable apparatus and strong coordination with cooperating agencies matter across the South Desert, where long travel distances and limited resources can quickly affect response capability.
STRUCTURE FIRE SAFETY: Install working smoke alarms on every level and inside sleeping areas. Practice two ways out, get out and stay out, and report pets or occupants who may still be inside. Never re-enter a burning building.
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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VIDEO VAULT | JULY 19, 2025 | HIGHWAY 18 BELOW CRESTLINE
This archival incident package combines the Fire District's three original video clips and scene photograph from a technical rescue on Highway 18 below Crestline. It documents a past response and is not a current incident alert.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., a passenger vehicle left the roadway at a turnout and plunged about 100 feet down steep mountain terrain. The vehicle came to rest on its side beneath dense tree cover, making it difficult to see from the highway. A passerby witnessed the collision and called 911.
Local 935 members located and assessed the sole occupant while operating in darkness and rugged terrain. Crews built a technical rope-rescue system and used a stokes basket to safely move the patient to another section of Highway 18, where a paramedic ambulance was waiting. The patient sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. No firefighter injuries were reported.
The response included two engines, one rescue unit, one paramedic ambulance, one battalion chief and one public information officer. One traffic lane was closed to protect rescue rigging, apparatus and personnel. CAL FIRE, the California Highway Patrol and the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station assisted.
This operation shows why an all-risk fire service needs trained personnel, technical rescue equipment, reliable apparatus and adequate staffing. Patient care, rope operations, traffic protection and command functions must happen together while coverage is maintained for surrounding communities.
SAFETY MESSAGE: Slow down on mountain roads, remain alert near turnouts and never approach a vehicle over an embankment. Call 911, provide the best location possible and let trained responders evaluate unstable terrain. Slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.
Video, photograph and incident information: San Bernardino County Fire
Cooperating agencies: CAL FIRE, California Highway Patrol and Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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RECENT INCIDENT | OCTOBER 19, 2026 | CRESTMORE
Firefighters responded to the 18000 block of 10th Street on October 19 after a large travel trailer, a detached garage and several vehicles became heavily involved in fire. Explosions from contents within the fire could be heard in the neighborhood, with nearby structures and vehicles threatened.
Local 935 members worked from multiple positions to contain the flames, protect the main residence and neighboring properties, and limit the fire's spread in challenging nighttime conditions. The response included four engines, one ladder truck, a paramedic squad and a battalion chief, with a public information officer and two fire investigators also responding.
No injuries to residents, their animals or firefighters were reported.
A fire like this is not one task at a time. Crews must manage the burning contents while protecting surrounding buildings and keeping access open for incoming apparatus. The teamwork in this video is a look at the work our firefighters carry out for their communities, often while most people are home for the night.
You can help before crews reach the address. Keep streets clear, leave room for fire engines to maneuver, and avoid driving toward an emergency to record it. Stopping or parking near the scene can block the very crews trying to get in.
This video documents the October 19 response, not an active incident alert.
Video: San Bernardino County Fire. Additional footage: @kgalindo_.
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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VIDEO VAULT | JULY 21, 2025 | INTERSTATE 15, CAJON PASS
This archival helmet-camera footage documents how quickly an emergency can change.
Over the weekend preceding July 21, 2025, San Bernardino County Fire crews responded after a pickup towing another pickup traveled approximately 30 feet down an embankment along Interstate 15 entering the Cajon Pass. Both trucks and the trailer caught fire, and the flames extended into surrounding vegetation.
Members arrived prepared for a traffic collision, recognized the changing conditions and transitioned into a wildland operation. County Fire, CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service coordinated suppression efforts, holding the vegetation fire to approximately one-half acre and preventing it from reaching nearby homes.
This response demonstrates the value of an all-risk fire service. A single call can require vehicle stabilization, emergency medical care, fire attack, wildland tactics, traffic control and coordination across multiple jurisdictions. Adequate staffing, dependable apparatus, training and regional resource depth allow our members to adapt quickly while maintaining coverage for other communities.
This footage documents the July 2025 response and is not a current incident alert.
SAFETY MESSAGE: Maintain your vehicle and trailer, secure safety chains so they cannot drag and create sparks, verify towing equipment before travel, slow down through the Cajon Pass and move over when emergency personnel are working near the freeway.
Video and incident information: San Bernardino County Fire
Cooperating agencies: CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service
SERVICE • PROFESSIONALISM • DEDICATION
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