A Life After Fire (Santa Monica Fire Department)

Описание: Made a video 6 years ago with just a GoPro, highlighting a day of a Santa Monica Firefighter (my dad). Now the time has finally come for him to retire from the department after 33 years of working.
Check out his full story down below.
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On December 12th, 2019, Battalion Chief Marc Rose will retire after 33 years as a Santa Monica Firefighter. His last shift is today, December 7th, 2019.
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Chief Rose was hired February 2nd, 1987 at the impressionable young age of twenty years old. Marc was born and raised in Anaheim and attended Esperanza High School. It was shortly after high school that a neighbor of his that was a firefighter influenced his career decision. “I wanted a career that made me want to go to work every day.” A career as a firefighter was certainly that.
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Marc started taking classes at Santa Ana College and attended Academy #60 at Santa Ana College in 1986 and obtained his EMT. The next 18 months were busy months for Marc that included Orange County Fire Department’s Paid Call Firefighter Academy, a reserve opportunity for both Santa Ana and Huntington Beach Fire Departments and an EMT for Medix Ambulance in Westminster. “I was doing everything I could to get hired as a firefighter because I wanted it so badly.”
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On February 2nd, 1987, Marc achieved his goal of being a firefighter. Marc was hired with Carl Bjerke, Steve West, Tom LaPonsey and Bruce Davis. Their academy was a short three weeks that resulted in Marc’s first assignment to Engine 2-C (in the old Station #2). Marc spent the three years after his probation as the “Vacation Relief” firefighter; bouncing from station to station to fill various vacancies. His first permanent assignment after his stint as the “Junior Man” was with Captain Bendiksen on Truck 1-A.
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Marc was one of our first Hazardous Materials Specialists in the mid-1990’s. He spent four weeks in Hazardous Materials Technician School and another two weeks in Hazardous Material Specialist School. Marc was then assigned to Engine 3-A and staffed our new Haz-Mat Program out of Station #3.
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After a few years at Station #3, Marc went on to Paramedic School in 1998 and upon graduation, he was assigned as a “Squaddie” with John Skorstad on Squad #2. In 2004 after over 15 years as a firefighter and a Paramedic, Marc promoted to Captain and eventually was assigned to Station #3. “I was assigned to Station #3 for over 13 years and those were the best times of my career. I got to work with guys like Hallock, Sutherland, Berry, Patton, Maccini, Hallock, Recore and Demamiel.”
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Marc was an active 1109 Board member for seven years and was instrumental in the formation of the Union Health Trust. Marc served as the Chairman of the Health Trust; a benefit established for all of the membership to enjoy for many years to come.
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In 2017, Marc promoted to Battalion Chief and was assigned to B shift, filling the vacancy created by the promotion of Mike McElvaney to Deputy Fire Chief.
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Some of Marc’s most notable incidents include the Ashland Fire, Marine Street Fires, 2700 Nielson High Rise Fire, 1431 Ocean High Rise Fire and The Huntley Hotel Fire.
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As a Battalion Chief, what Marc enjoyed most about the position was working with the other Chief Officers. “I really felt that Chief’s Nevandro, Mitchell and I worked well together."
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Chief Rose plans on spending much more time in Southern Utah in the St. George area near his two boys Mitchell and Marc and his girlfriend Toni. (Ironically, it is Mitchell’s 21st birthday today). This spring, he plans on building a home in New Harmony Utah. “I would love for the members to give me a call and stop in.” Marc plans on several back and forth trips between Utah and California to take care of his parents and visit family. “I also plan on a lot of travel in the United States and then on to Australia sometime in the next few years.”
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Chief Rose offered a few words of wisdom to our members: • In order to have a successful twenty to twenty five year career, you need to take care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally. • Maintain situational awareness at all times and expect the unexpected. • Never take anything for granted. • This career is a marathon not a sprint. The goal is to try to retire healthy so you can have a long and happy retirement. • Watch out for each other, help each other be successful and if we can do that, we can continue to have a successful department. • Coach, mentor and check in on your buddies. • For our new members, continue the hard work, the dedication and the effort to keep the SMFD the best it can be!
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We want to collectively wish Battalion Chief Marc Rose the best in his future retirement and congratulate him on a job very well done.