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.
EL NIÑO EXPLAINED | WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT IT DOESN'T
NOAA outlook: September 10, 2026
Historical examples, not a current storm or incident alert.
You may hear "super El Niño." It is an informal name for a very strong El Niño, not a storm heading toward the county or a separate warning category.
El Niño is an ocean-atmosphere pattern. Warmer equatorial Pacific water interacts with weaker trade winds, shifting tropical rainfall and jet-stream patterns that can influence winter storm tracks.
NOAA's September 10 outlook gives a very strong El Niño more than a 90% chance during fall/winter 2026-27. That describes the strength of the climate pattern, not a 90% chance of flooding here. It does not tell us which road will flood, how much snow will fall or when a particular storm will arrive.
Our earlier outreach campaign focused on 2015-16. That was a strong El Niño, but Southern California precipitation fell short of wet expectations, as Scripps researchers later explained. It was not the last El Niño; another developed in 2023 and ended in 2024. A strong ocean signal does not guarantee a particular local outcome.
Even during that drier-than-expected season, storms on January 5-7, 2016 brought flooding and mudslides near Redlands and Crestline, according to NWS. Seasonal averages do not rule out damaging individual storms.
Our mountain communities have faced serious hazards under different weather patterns. Following September 12, 2022 flooding, County Fire's final assessment reported six single-family residences destroyed in Forest Falls and two residences destroyed in Oak Glen. Eight additional residences sustained minor or moderate damage in Oak Glen. Remnants of Kay contributed to that flooding. It is historical context, not a prediction of what the current El Niño will do.
There is also a longer history of loss. USGS documents 16 deaths in the Christmas 2003 mountain-front postfire debris flows following the Old and Grand Prix fires. Separately, NWS records one drowning death in Forest Falls during September 7-9, 2015 flooding involving moisture from Linda's remnants. These are separate, dated events, not one combined disaster.
Snow presents another set of challenges. The county's 2023 Winter Storm After-Action Report describes successive storms from February 23 to March 15, approximately 11 feet of snow in some areas and approximately 269 documented rescues across the multiagency emergency response. Routes 18, 38, 330, 173 and 189 became impassable during that emergency.
The snow emergency began during La Niña. NOAA announced the transition to neutral on March 9, 2023, before the later 2023-24 El Niño. Neither that snow emergency nor the 2022 flooding was caused by today's El Niño. Past disasters show why readiness matters across different weather patterns, not that any event is guaranteed to repeat.
What can we do now? Clear gutters, downspouts and drains before wet weather. Review household communications, essential supplies, medications, pet needs and evacuation arrangements. Follow official warnings and leave when instructed. Sandbags are supplementary, not a substitute for evacuation.
Before mountain travel, check tires, wipers and brakes. Carry correctly fitted chains, know how to install them and check current road conditions. Four-wheel drive does not override chain restrictions. Never enter floodwater or go around a road closure.
At home, service heating equipment and chimneys, keep heaters at least three feet from combustibles, never burn charcoal indoors and maintain alarms.
Your San Bernardino County firefighters want preparedness to begin with useful information, not a dramatic forecast headline. What is one preparation your household can complete this week?
Archive photo: Forest Falls, September 2022. Photo: Local 935.
Information: NOAA, USGS, Scripps, NWS, San Bernardino County, County Fire and Ready.gov.
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FIRE TERMS EXPLAINED | FORWARD RATE OF SPREAD & MOP-UP
Photo: September 13, 2026 | Walnut Street, San Bernardino
Not a current incident alert.
“Forward rate of spread stopped” means the fire's forward advance has been halted. It does not mean the fire is completely out or fully contained.
The work continues with mop-up: finding and extinguishing remaining hot spots and smoldering material, especially near the fire's edge and control lines. The goal is to remove remaining heat and reduce the chance of the fire spreading again.
Fire lines help separate burning areas from unburned vegetation. Hand crews or dozers can build these lines by removing burnable material down to mineral soil. A wet line is a temporary line created with water or fire retardent. Neither is a guarantee against further spread, so crews continue checking the perimeter.
Fuel, weather and terrain affect fire behavior and the work needed afterward. Depending on the conditions, crews may remain for hours or days, extinguishing hot spots, strengthening lines and checking for any renewed activity.
So when you hear “forward rate of spread stopped,” remember: the fire's advance has stopped, but the firefighters' work may be far from finished.
Photo: San Bernardino County Fire.
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RECENT INCIDENT | MARCH 10, 2026 | FOOTHILL BOULEVARD EAST OF BENSON AVENUE, UPLAND
Local 935 members responded shortly after 2:30 p.m. to a reported natural-gas leak after contractors struck a four-inch main. Medic Engine 163 found a moderate-volume release and immediately established an exclusion zone.
Firefighters used air-monitoring equipment to evaluate atmospheric conditions and confirmed there was no threat to the public outside the exclusion zone and no need for evacuations. Members remained on scene supporting SoCalGas personnel while the damaged main was isolated. Four valves and an internal bladder were used to stop the flow at approximately 8:15 p.m. Foothill Boulevard remained closed during the operation. No injuries were reported.
Gas emergencies require trained personnel, monitoring equipment, traffic control, coordination with utilities and enough staffed resources to maintain a safe perimeter for as long as the incident requires.
NATURAL-GAS SAFETY: If you smell rotten eggs or hear escaping gas, leave the area immediately. Do not operate switches, start vehicles or use anything that could create a spark. From a safe location, call 911 and the gas utility.
Video and incident information: San Bernardino County Fire.
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APPARATUS SPOTLIGHT | MEDIC ENGINE 306 | HESPERIA
Photo credit: @ietoocfirephotos
Meet Medic Engine 306, a KME-built paramedic fire engine serving Hesperia's south end.
There is a lot of working design behind that familiar red exterior. The four-door cab carries the crew, while the side-mounted pump panel brings gauges, controls and hose connections together in one working area. Exterior compartments organize equipment outside the cab, and ground ladders travel along the side of the engine.
The pump panel is part of the engine's water-delivery system. It is where firefighters manage the pumping side of the response, separate from the work of the crews using the hose lines. The apparatus is a working platform, not simply transportation to the call.
Station 306 was established on Ranchero Road near I Avenue with a paramedic engine company, an ambulance crew and a brush engine staffed by station personnel for wildland fires. Fire protection, medical care and wildland response are all part of serving this community.
Across County Fire, similarly outfitted engines help create consistency for the people using them. Apparatus committee members and fire mechanics contribute to design, inspections and outfitting.
For Local 935, dependable apparatus, thoughtful equipment layout and training are investments in the working tools our members rely on.
What would you like us to explain in a future walk-around: the pump panel, hose connections or equipment compartments?
Photos: @ietoocfirephotos. Thank you for showcasing County Fire apparatus.
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RECENT INCIDENT | SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 | NORTH G STREET, SAN BERNARDINO
Abandoned does not mean empty.
At 12:02 p.m. on September 11, Local 935 members responded to a commercial structure fire in the 200 block of North G Street. Smoke was coming from the second story and roof of a former bank that had experienced previous fires. Bystanders reported someone trapped upstairs.
Firefighters entered from the first and second floors and searched the building. No occupants were found. Crews located a debris fire on the second floor, advanced hose lines upstairs and coordinated with truck companies opening the roof to release smoke and heat. The fire was extinguished in approximately 20 minutes, with no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.
The search could not wait on an assumption about an abandoned building. Our members had to check for people while other crews worked to reach the fire and improve interior conditions. Different assignments, carried out together, are what you are seeing in this video.
Local 935 is proud to recognize the firefighters doing that work, inside the building and on the roof. Follow us to learn more about the people and teamwork behind your fire and emergency services.
This video documents the September 11 response, not an active incident or the separate March 17 fire at this address.
Video and incident information: San Bernardino County Fire.
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ASK YOUR FIREFIGHTERS | RESCUE TAKES A TEAM
Archive training photo | July 3, 2019
When you see a rope rescue, what part of the teamwork would you like us to explain?
The firefighter on the slope may be the most visible person, but the work also involves people managing equipment, communicating and preparing to move someone safely. In this County Fire training photo, you can see several of those roles coming together around a rescue litter. This is a drill, not a current emergency.
Would you like a closer look at how the team prepares, the equipment it brings, or how members communicate? Tell us which part interests you and what you’d like to know.
Our members’ practice and teamwork deserve recognition alongside the rescues themselves. Your questions help us show more of that work.
Photo: San Bernardino County Fire, Hillside Rescue Training.
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RECENT INCIDENT | MARCH 16, 2026 | COOLEY COURT, SAN BERNARDINO
At approximately 1:55 a.m., Local 935 members responded to a reported commercial structure fire and found a large occupied warehouse charged with smoke. Crews advanced hose lines and located a small contents fire that the building’s automatic sprinkler system was holding in check.
The combination of a rapid firefighter response and a properly maintained sprinkler system limited the fire to a small area. All occupants evacuated safely, and crews used positive-pressure ventilation fans to remove smoke from the warehouse. The Office of the Fire Marshal determined the fire was accidental. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. Colton and Loma Linda fire departments assisted through mutual aid.
This incident demonstrates why built-in fire protection does not replace firefighters—it buys valuable time. Sprinklers control heat and fire growth while properly staffed companies complete evacuation, search for occupants, extinguish remaining fire, check for extension and make the building safe.
FIRE SAFETY: Business owners and property managers should keep sprinkler valves accessible, maintain required inspections and never obstruct sprinkler heads or fire-department access.
Video and incident information: San Bernardino County Fire.
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ASK YOUR FIREFIGHTERS | MORE THAN A BIG RED TRUCK
Archive apparatus photo | Truck 304
Notice the second cab at the back of the ladder truck?
A tiller truck looks different for a reason. Its design, equipment and the teamwork needed to operate it are a whole story of their own. Fire apparatus are not all interchangeable, and the tools our members bring depend on the work that needs to be done.
What would you like us to explain first: the rear steering position, the aerial ladder, or what is stored in those equipment compartments? Tell us what catches your eye in this photo.
Get to know the members of Local 935 and the apparatus they operate.
Photo: San Bernardino County Fire.
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RECENT INCIDENT | MARCH 17, 2026 | 200 BLOCK OF NORTH G STREET, SAN BERNARDINO
Local 935 members responded at 1:24 p.m. to a commercial structure fire in a secured, abandoned former bank building. Smoke was showing from the second floor, and barred entry points created significant access and safety challenges.
Crews conducted simultaneous searches for occupants and the seat of the fire while truck companies opened the roof to improve interior conditions. When the nearest hydrant was found out of service, firefighters quickly secured an alternate water supply. The fire was contained to the room of origin and attic area, limiting damage to the remainder of the building. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.
The response required five engines, two trucks, a paramedic squad, command officers, investigators, a safety officer, a robotics unit and public-information support. Complex incidents demand enough trained personnel to perform search, fire attack, ventilation, water supply, command and firefighter-safety functions at the same time. Reliable hydrants, staffed apparatus and maintained infrastructure all matter.
FIRE SAFETY: Never enter a vacant or fire-damaged building. Unstable construction, hidden fire and toxic smoke can be deadly.
Video and incident information: San Bernardino County Fire.
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ASK YOUR FIREFIGHTERS | LIFE AT THE STATION
Archive station-life photo
If we gave you a behind-the-scenes look inside a fire station, which part would you want to see first?
The kitchen? The apparatus bay? The space where crews train and prepare equipment?
This photo shows one of the less dramatic jobs at the firehouse: keeping a shared workspace clean. Our members’ days include routines and responsibilities that rarely make an incident video, but they are part of living and working as a crew.
Tell us which part of station life you’re curious about, and what you’d like us to explain. Your suggestions can guide a future post.
Photo: San Bernardino County Fire, Brandon Barsugli.
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PHOTO OF THE DAY | APRIL 4, 2026 | FONTANA
A familiar face before there is an emergency.
This photo from the County Fire archives captures firefighters sharing a moment with young community members in Fontana. It is a look back, not a current event announcement.
For a child, a fire engine may be the first thing that catches the eye. The conversation beside it is just as important. Meeting the people behind the uniform creates an opportunity to ask questions and learn that firefighters do much more than put out fires.
Public education can begin with something simple: explaining what a piece of equipment does, talking about how a crew works together, or helping a young person feel comfortable approaching a firefighter for help. Community visits and everyday interactions make room for those conversations outside the pressure of an emergency.
For Local 935, recognizing our members means highlighting these moments, too. We appreciate the firefighters who take time to connect with the communities they serve, and the families who help children learn about the people and services around them.
What did you want to know about a fire engine when you were a kid?
Photo: San Bernardino County Fire.
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MUTUAL AID SPOTLIGHT | MARCH 19, 2026 | RIVERSIDE
This San Bernardino County Fire video documents Local 935 members providing mutual-aid support to Riverside Fire following a significant commercial fire. The active fire had been controlled, and the County Fire excavator was brought in to help crews complete overhaul safely and efficiently.
Specialized heavy equipment is a force multiplier at large or complex incidents. An excavator can open unstable or collapsed areas, expose deep-seated hotspots and move heavy debris without requiring firefighters to spend hours performing the same work by hand. That reduces fatigue, collapse risk and prolonged exposure to toxic smoke while helping companies finish overhaul and return to service sooner.
California’s mutual-aid system allows communities to share trained personnel and specialty resources when an incident exceeds one agency’s capabilities. Maintaining trained operators, dependable specialty apparatus and sustainable staffing is an investment in regional readiness and firefighter safety.
Video and incident information: San Bernardino County Fire. Partner agency: Riverside Fire.
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