South County Profile: Joe Piccinini

JOE PICCININI

Joe Piccinini moved to Shasta County nine months ago from Oklahoma. He was a firefighter there for 31 years, working his way up through the ranks. Piccinini became a volunteer firefighter at age 16 while living in Southern California. After graduating high school, Piccinini headed off to college in Tulsa, Okla., and received his degrees in Fire Protection from Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State University.

Piccinini enjoys working as a career firefighter because he is able to help out his fellow human beings. For Piccinini each day is different. As chief, he takes care of administrative issues, taking care of budgeting, proper staffing of the fire department, safety of his firefighters and responding to emergency calls in the area. Approximately 70 percent of the calls in the district are medical calls. The department responds to seven or eight calls a day, with one firefighter, the deputy chief and the battalion chief.

With the recent fires that have been burning in the area, Piccinini worked in the command center at the fairgrounds for 29 and a half days, on 16-hour shifts. The Anderson Fire Protection District also had a strike team of two engines and a strike team leader working out on the fires. Piccinini works a 50-hour workweek. He enjoys the camaraderie of his fellow firefighters.

“There are times when you feel emotionally beat up after a call. That is when the brotherhood and sisterhood of fire fighting goes into effect. You are able to take care of each other and talk through things,” said Piccinini.

Piccinini’s advice for those that would like to work in the fire service is that, “You should stay in school then begin working on your degrees in Fire Protection Services. It may not be an issue at first to get a job but when you go to promote in the ranks, the education will help you to achieve your goals.”

Name: Joe Piccinini.

Born where and when: Santa Rosa, November 1957.

Occupation: Fire Chief.

Marital Status: Married for 17 years.

Family: My wife Kat and our 20-year-old daughter Stephanie.

Pets: One cat, Abby.

My worst job: I’ve been a firefighter all my life. I’ve never had a worst job.

My first job: Firefighter.

In my spare time I: Ride my Harley Davidson.

My favorite book: Anything by Stewart Wood.

My favorite movie: The Wizard of Oz.

My favorite recording artist: Dean Martin and Disturbed.

My dream car: A Dodge Viper.

My friends like me because: I am out-going.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: The daily newspaper delivered.

The one thing in life I’ve learned is: Misery is optional.

The best advice my parents gave me: Work hard and save your money.

My most embarrassing moment was: When I was a rookie fire fighter, we were called out on a structure fire. My SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) mask fogged up. I was crawling around in the building after the fire was out and the chief pushed on my mask.

My most irrational act: I’m sure I’ve done some irrational acts, but I am not sure at this time what they were.

My most valued material possession: I don’t have one, I am not a material person.

My hero is: My brother, Jack.

My pet peeve is: Incompetence.

If I could change one thing about myself I would: Be more of a morning person.