When disaster strikes, Local 1014 members never hesitate to step up—and this week was no different. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) activated the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) canine teams to deploy to central Texas in response to devastating and widespread flooding.

Fire Captain Celina Serrano with K9 Prentiss, Fire Fighter Paramedic Jonathan Munguia with K9 Clifford, and Search Team Manager Fire Captain Michael Devine departed for a 14-day mission to assist with search and recovery operations. These specially trained teams are equipped to operate in dangerous and unpredictable environments, using their expertise and their canines’ advanced scent detection capabilities to locate missing persons and bring relief to impacted communities.

Governor Gavin Newsom also announced the deployment of an additional 18 highly skilled USAR team members to further support flood recovery operations in Texas. Our members join forces with search and rescue professionals from Riverside City, Menlo Park, Orange County, and Oakland—showcasing the strength and solidarity of California’s first responders.

As always, Local 1014 members stand ready—not just for our own communities, but for those in need across the country. This deployment is a powerful reminder of the critical role our members play in emergency response, both locally and nationally.

To our deployed members and their four-legged partners: thank you for representing the very best of the fire service and LA County.

Exploring Innovative Tools for Mental Wellness: Virtual Reality Pilot Program

This week, President Gillotte, 2nd Vice President Carcioppolo, and Peer/Chaplain Roldan joined Battalion Chief Ronnow, members of the Wellness Division support staff, and Lead Clinician Dr. Frolic for a demonstration of virtual reality (VR) goggles designed to help reduce stress and promote decompression.

For the past several months, a pilot program utilizing this VR technology has been underway in our dispatch center. The program is actively collecting data and survey feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of VR as a tool in combating stress and Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI). Early results are promising, and we’re optimistic that with strong data and positive outcomes, we can apply for grant funding to expand access to this innovative resource.

This marks a significant step forward, potentially positioning Local 1014, our Peer Support Program, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department as leaders and innovators in first responder mental health support—particularly as this would be a first for dispatchers and field personnel alike.

We are excited to announce that the next phase of the pilot will bring VR technology into fire stations across the department. If successful, we aim to provide this powerful new tool to help our hardworking members manage the stress of the job and everyday life.

Your Union, Local 1014, along with Peer Support, remains committed to pioneering new ways to support the mental health and overall well-being of our members. Please stay tuned for updates as this groundbreaking initiative continues to grow.

• Fertility & Family Building: Navigate fertility treatment options (IUI, IVF, and egg freezing), choose an adoption and surrogacy agency, and find mental health support while trying to conceive
• Maternity & Newborn Care: Create a birth plan, navigate infant sleep, get support with breastfeeding and bottle feeding, and meet with postpartum mental health specialists
• Parenting & Pediatrics: Get pediatric care and mental health support, learn about the right childcare options, and talk through behavior and dynamics with parent coaches
• Menopause & Midlife: Learning about lifestyle changes to manage high blood pressure during midlife, managing menopause symptoms, and eating healthy to stay strong through menopause and midlife