Two interim Cambria Fire appointments made permanent

Two interim appointments made in October at the Cambria Fire Department are now permanent, according to emails exchanged Thursday, March 3. In addition, four reserve firefighters have been hired on a full-time basis, with their salaries to be paid by a federal grant designed to enhance firefighter safety and service to the community.

Jerry Gruber, general manager of the Cambria Community Services District, said he concurred heartily with recommendations made by Eric Shalhoob, Cal Fire battalion chief who has been managing the independent Cambria department for more than eight months. Cal Fire is providing department management under a year’s contract until the district hires a new fire chief.

The Cambria Fire appointments include:

▪  Emily Torlano was recommended to be a permanent fire captain at Cambria Fire. She had been promoted in October to “limited term fire captain,” replacing retired captain Steve Bitto.

“Capt. Torlano has displayed an excellent attitude during the extraordinarily difficult circumstances regarding the future of the CCSD Fire Department,” Shalhoob wrote. Torlano “remains professional and highly motivated despite all of the political distractions. She remains focused on ensuring her new responsibilities are prioritized and completed with pride and accuracy.”

Shalhoob listed more of Torlano’s attributes, including leadership abilities and skills in obtaining grants, and he concluded that she “has met and exceeded my expectations as a new fire captain. She is eager to learn and will continue to be a progressive leader” for the department.

Torlano responded with a gracious thank you for her permanent appointment, saying it’s an “absolute honor” and a “monumental moment in my life.” She said, “our organization has endured many growing pains over the years, and I have learned so much in the process. … Our CCSD family has come out of it stronger, wiser, closer and open to change.”

Torlano, 41, was a healthcare-district medic before joining Cambria Fire as a reservist in 2000. The avid athlete (hiker, mountain climber and marathon runner) is divorced and has two young sons. She has her bachelor’s degree in fire administration, and is working on her master’s degree.

While Torlano would be eligible to apply for the vacant fire chief position, she said Tuesday, March 8, that she doesn’t intend to do so because she loves “where I am now,” and looks forward to serving in that position.

▪  Likewise, Tyson Hamilton was appointed as a “limited term fire engineer,” but has now been given that title and responsibilities on a permanent basis.

Shalhoob complimented Hamilton’s attitude during the past difficult months, along with his professionalism and mechanical abilities. Hamilton has been “instrumental in ensuring that all fire apparatus and small equipment are properly maintained,” working closely with mechanics performing repairs, such as those made recently to the brakes on the front-line fire engine.

▪  Ben Shank, Michael Castellanos and Ian Van Weerden Poelman will be the department’s new full-time firefighters. They are to be sworn in at the district board’s meeting that starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in the Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main St.

Shank, Castellanos and Van Weerden Poelman will be on staff for at least for the two years in which a government grant will pay their wages under SAFER funding (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response). Adding those firefighters will bring the department to the recommended level of having four firefighters on duty to meet the “two in/two out” safety recommendation for fighting a fire or handling another emergency.

Reserve firefighter Aaron Hunt will be first on an eligibility list to fill a vacancy.

All four had been working as reserve firefighters for Cambria Fire.

The department also is about to hire some reserve recruits, and recently conducted oral boards for those positions.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Two interim Cambria Fire appointments made permanent."