When considering how rapid fire spreads in today’s modern environment, our fire crews need a continuous water supply to support firefighting operations in order to save life and property. If the fire engine runs out of water, you can’t suppress the fire and you are not protecting anything. In fact, you are putting our firefighters and the public at risk. This is one reason why the Vista Fire Fighters feel it is important to support a candidate with proven expertise and experience in the field of water systems and supply.
The Vista Fire Fighters Association are supporting Mr. Kuchinski for the Vista Irrigation District, Division 3 seat because of his commitment to ensuring the safety and reliability of Vista Irrigation District’s water supply, as well as his willingness to work collaboratively with Vista Firefighters. A close working relationship between fire departments and local water providers is crucial, and the Vista Fire Fighters Association feels that Mr. Kuchinsky, and his fellow Directors, will continue managing the VID with professionalism and vision. One such idea envisions and supports wildfire readiness and resiliency within Vista by building a future Heli-Hydrant. A Heli-Hydrant is typically a 12-15-foot-wide open tank, near an existing reservoir, holding up to 5,000 gallons of water for firefighting helicopters. This Heli-Hydrant provides pilots with easily accessible water during wildland fires, potentially saving crucial minutes and even seconds. And in a Santa Ana wind driven fire, seconds count. Innovations and ideas like these also support the firefighters that I represent on the ground by providing on-demand water to fight the fire, lessoning the workload on the ground crews and providing a safer environment.
Finally, we trust that Mr. Kuchinsky’s eighteen (18) years working for the Association of California Water Agency Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA JPIA), as their Lead Risk Advisor, and all the positive and long-term relationships built among other water district directors and general managers within the San Diego and Southern California region, will only benefit Vista and our shared goals of public safety and a robust water system and supply. We hope that those residents within the Vista Irrigation District will join the Vista Fire Fighters Association in supporting and voting for Peter Kuchinsky for VID Division 3 in the November election.
