Photo by Barb Mastro Probationary FF/PM Nathan Ramos was born and raised in San Diego/Rancho Bernardo and came to us from the Borrego Springs Fire Department. He started his Firefighting and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training in 2002, has been a licensed Paramedic (EMT-P) for three years and has three years of full-time Firefighting experience. He and his wife Tara, who is currently in nursing school, still reside in Rancho Bernardo. Nate gained valuable firefighting experience on a Strike Team assignment during the huge Fire Storms in October of 2007 working on the Witch Creek Fire in northern San Diego County. Probationary FF/PM Larry Hogueisson was born in Chicago. After seven years there and another dozen years in Portland, OR, he moved to San Diego just after high school. Larry worked as an elementary school teacher for the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District for 12 years. He had three years of Firefighting experience as a Reserve Firefighter for San Miguel Fire and was the Leader for the 9th San Miguel Reserve Firefighter Academy class in 2006. Larry was assigned to a Strike Team assignment on the Harris Fire in southern San Diego County during the Fire Storms of October 2007. After that experience he decided to pursue training to become licensed as a Paramedic as well. After gaining certification as an EMT, he attended an additional year-long Paramedic Academy. He actually completed the final two-month intensive field internship portion of his Paramedic Academy here with the Coronado Fire Department so some of you may have already met Larry. Hopefully it was just saying “Hi!” at the grocery store or at some fun event at the Fire Station and NOT on an emergency call! He has been married to Kim since 1996 and they along with their nine year-old son, Zach live in Rancho San Diego. Probationary FF/PM Ted Porter III was born in Oceanside and raised in Carlsbad where he still lives. Ted’s father was a Firefighter for 33 years so he is proudly carrying on the family tradition. Ted first started his training in 2002 and began working as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for three years, took an additional year to attend Paramedic Academy, attended Palomar College’s Fire Academy and finally worked almost a year for Del Mar Fire before accepting a position with Coronado Fire. During his time with Del Mar Fire, Ted gained valuable firefighting experience on a Strike Team assignment in Butte County on the BTU Complex Fire last July. Probationary FF/PM Chris Balke was born in San Diego and grew up in Rancho San Diego. 2008 was a happy and full year for Chris. During the span of only a few months, he married his high school sweetheart (whom he’s known since ELEMENTARY school) bought a house in the Santee/El Cajon area and then got the job offer to come join the Coronado Fire Department! Chris started his Fire Service training in 2002 as a Fire Cadet with the City of San Diego Fire Department and worked with a San Diego Strike Team on the Cedar Fire in 2003. He obtained his EMT certification and his EMT-P while working for a private ambulance service in San Diego since 2003. In 2006 he graduated from San Miguel Fire’s 9th Reserve Firefighter Academy and was recognized as “Most Inspirational” by his peers at graduation. Our fifth new recruit, Probationary FF/PM Brian Standing grew up close-by in Chula Vista and graduated from Bonita Vista High School in 2003. He began his training with the San Diego City Fire Cadet program while still in high school and continued after graduation. He took his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Fire Science courses at Miramar College, got hired as an EMT with a private ambulance service in San Diego. After two years experience there he enrolled in Paramedic Academy. Brian worked as a Paramedic (EMT-P) in San Diego before getting the offer to join Coronado Fire. Since Brian had more full-time Paramedic experience than formal Firefighting training/experience the Department sent him to the longer multi-agency Heartland Fire Academy. Brian also became his Fire Academy’s Leader where he continues to excel and make us proud! Brian and his fiancée Ashley will be tying the knot right after his graduation this April. The Coronado Firefighters would like to extend a warm welcome and a well deserved congratulations to our new Firefighter/Paramedics. You can recognize our new “Probies” by their blue plastic nametags. They will get their official shiny metal ones upon successful completion of their one-year probationary period. Remember, you are always welcome to stop by the Fire Stations to learn more about what we do and the training we offer. Pop in and meet the crews . . . and be sure to say “Hi!” to the newest members of our family.
