Canyon Lake Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse and his wife, Mindy, were recognized by the Canyon Lake City Council for their actions during a power outage last month.
The commendation came as the city acknowledged the couple’s dedication and quick thinking, which ensured the safety of the community and on-duty fire crew during a power outage at the fire station.
The outage occurred when Southern California Edison temporarily shut off electricity as a precautionary measure to reduce wildfire risks due to high winds. The fire station’s new generator was activated but failed to work, and a backup generator would not be available until the following day. As a result, the crew was left with no power or Wi-Fi, hindering their ability to receive emergency notifications from dispatch.
Understanding the critical need for operational continuity, the Latendresses opened their home to the on-duty crew for the night, allowing operations to continue during the power outage. Their hospitality ensured that firefighters had access to power, Wi-Fi, food, warm beds, and the readiness to respond to any emergency without interruption.
Power was restored at the fire station the following day, and normal operations resumed.
The council praised the LaTendresses for going above and beyond the call of duty, highlighting their unwavering commitment to the community and the fire department team.
