South San Francisco, CA October 22, 2021 Press Release
South San Francisco Firefighters, Administrators, family, and friends gathered to celebrate the new additions to the department as well as the newly promoted.
“We have a great group of personnel that we have added to our department who are self-driven, motivated, dedicated, and have positive attitudes when it comes to serving our community,” says South San Francisco Fire Chief Jess Magallanes.
During this week’s badge ceremony, the following people were recognized:
- Joshua Johnson, Paramedic Firefighter
Joshua, a South San Francisco native, has spent the last four years at SSFFD in the Basic Life Support (BLS) Division before becoming a Paramedic Firefighter.
- Hunter Gold, Paramedic Firefighter
Hunter was a cadet with the El Dorado Hills Fire Department before joining the SSFFD as a Paramedic Firefighter.
- Allison Tullo, Paramedic Firefighter
Allison spent one season with Cal Fire in Santa Clara as a seasonal firefighter before joining SSFFD.
- Stephan Keshishian, Paramedic Firefighter
Stephan spent two years as a volunteer firefighter with Marinwood Fire and another two years as a paramedic with Alameda County before joining SSFFD.
- Nathan Monck, Paramedic Firefighter
Nathan has eight years of experience working with Cal Fire, City of Willows, and South Placer before joining SSFFD.
- Amber Verdin, Accounting Assistant II
Prior to joining SSFFD, Amber worked for three years as an Accounting Assistant with the SSFUSD.
- Jo Dabis, Administrative Assistant I
Jo has been with the SSFFD for eight years. She started her career as an Office Specialist before becoming an Administrative Assistant.
- Nelson Aranda, Safety Inspector II
Nelson has 16 years of experience; four years as an EMT, and the last 12 years as a Safety Inspector.
- Caitlin Bucceri, Safety Inspector II
Caitlin has been with the SSFFD for seven years before being promoted to Safety Inspector II.
- Jody Hughes, Fire Engineer
Jody has 27 years of fire service experience, including the US Forest Service, Cal Fire, Burney Fire Protection District, Mercy Air. For the last 19 years, he has been with the City of South San Francisco as a Paramedic Firefighter before becoming a Fire Engineer.
- Ronald Avellar, Fire Engineer
Ronald also has 27 years of fire service experience, including the Turlock Rural Fire Department. For the last 19 years, he has been with the City of South San Francisco as a Paramedic Firefighter before becoming a Fire Engineer.
- Jonathan Clay, Fire Engineer
Jonathan has been with the SSFFD for 16 years serving in various capacities, including Paramedic Firefighter and Interim EMS Captain before being promoted to Fire Engineer.
- David Ramsey, Honoring Badge #1
As the most senior non-officer in the department, David has 33 years of fire service experience, including time spent with Mendocino Forest Hot Shots and Los Altos. His last 29 years have been with the SSFFD.
- Devin Flannery, Fire Captain
Devin has been with SSFFD since 2003 as a Paramedic Firefighter and now joins the ranks as a Fire Captain.
- Rick Bracelin, Fire Captain
Rick has 15 years of fire service experience, including the Half Moon Bay Fire District. His last 12 years have been with SSFFD where he has served as a Paramedic Preceptor, Field Training Officer, FireLine paramedic, Acting Engineer, Acting Captain, and a Rescue Specialist with FEMA’s Task Force 3.
- Dietrich Gale, Fire Captain
Dietrich has 21 years of fire service experience, which includes five years of active duty with the Air Force, five years as a Federal Firefighter/EMT and Paramedic, and 11 years with SSFFD
- Ian Hardage, Fire Marshal
Ian has 23 years of fire service experience, which includes serving for the City of Vallejo Fire Department, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, and the City of Santa Rosa Fire Department.
- Brian Metcho, Battalion Chief
Brian has more than 22 years of experience with the SSFFD as a Paramedic Firefighter, Fire Captain, and now Battalion Chief
congrats battalion chief Metcho best fire aadmeny insturcter i had. the first that i meet battalion chief and captain golden in 2005.i would remeber was i was so scare going under maze and draggin out the dumy captain came with me and said. hey john when i was your age i was scare to as kid. he told me that you do this john. so battalion mectho came with me. i will never for get that moment. in 2010 we were doing roll call battalion chief call my name i said here, that day i went to giants dodgers game that nigth i last my voice beause i was booing all the dodgers players that day.
thank you battalion chief metcho
john
South City Fire is the best! We feel so confident and secure with the SSFFD on selfless duty. We used to live on Chestnut Avenue when our girls were younger and would watch the engines go up and down the street while they played outside…sometimes you were in a rush or sometimes just going “to lunch”. (haha) They have grown up respecting the hard work the SSFFD does, along with the SSFPD, and know that you will always have their backs while in South City. Thank you and God bless you all!