The Vista Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee met recently and got something different from the usual policy talk. Battalion Chief Miles Sweeney from Vista Fire & Rescue stood up and gave them a clear-eyed look at how the job has changed.

Miles has been in the fire service for 30 years.

Twenty-three of those years have been right here in Vista. He’s a former Heroes of Vista Firefighter of the Year and an American Legion Medal of Valor recipient. These days he runs Training, Health, and Safety for the department.

He told the group they’re currently running 27 serious drills. Not the short ones. Long sessions on fire behavior, techniques, procedures, and the constant updates that come with a job that keeps evolving.

Then he dropped the number that should stick with people.

Since 1980, residential fires in this country have dropped more than 56 percent. That’s the good news. The bad news is that civilian deaths from those fires have climbed 43 percent. The fires that do start burn hotter and faster because of the materials we build and furnish with now. Modern construction feeds a fire in ways older buildings never did.

The only real lever firefighters still control is time. Get there faster. Search faster. Ventilate smarter. Handle the medical side without hesitation. Everything else is working against them.

So they drill on competence. They drill on judgment under pressure. They drill on coordination when the clock is already running. Vista’s mutual-aid agreements with neighboring cities help a lot. That open-border approach means engines don’t stop at city lines when someone’s house is lighting up. Last year the department answered 18,000 calls. Not all of them were fires. Water rescues,

wildland, medical emergencies that needed more than a hose, even the occasional rappelling situation. They have to be ready for all of it.

Sweeney also made a practical offer. Any business in Vista that wants a firefighter to walk through their place and look at fire preparedness can just call. They’ll send someone. No lecture. Just useful help.

And one more thing that doesn’t get enough airtime. All those new speed humps and roundabouts around town are slowing response times. The department is talking regularly with city officials about it. Every second still counts.

This is the quiet work most people never see. The drills. The late nights. The constant push to stay ahead of fires that burn hotter than the ones their fathers fought.

Miles Sweeney and the rest of Vista Fire & Rescue are putting in the work so that when the call comes, they’re not figuring it out on the fly. They’re already ready.

Questions and Answers About the Meeting

Who spoke?
Vista Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Miles Sweeney, who oversees Training, Health, and Safety.

What was the main focus of his presentation? 
The intensive training program the department is currently running — 27 lengthy drills focused on fire behavior, techniques, procedures, and response times.

Why are fires more dangerous now even though there are fewer of them?
Modern building materials and furnishings cause fires to burn hotter and faster. Since 1980, residential fires have dropped more than 56 percent, but civilian deaths have risen 43 percent.

How many calls did Vista Fire & Rescue handle last year?
Approximately 18,000 calls.

Can local businesses get help with fire preparedness?
Yes. Chief Sweeney invited any Vista business to contact the fire department. They will send a representative to review the business’s fire preparedness.