Temecula’s Assemblyman to Head Fire Workgroup

Temecula’s state assemblyman was named the chair of the Assembly’s Rural Fire Protection Working Group.

Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, will serve his third term in the workgroup for the 2011-2012 legislative year, his office announced Tuesday.

Jeffries was a firefighter for 29 years before beginning his full-time career in politics, making him a good choice for the position, he said in an emailed announcement.

"I admire what these men and women do every day for our communities, so being honored by organizations representing both frontline firefighters and their chiefs means a great deal to me," he said.

The group is responsible for evaluating current fire prevention programs and resources, ensuring access to adequate training facilities and programs, identifying funding, staffing and communication barriers, encouraging volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention and promoting integrated rural fire protection services.

Jeffries the “Legislator of the Year” award from the California State Firefighters’ Association. He for a seat on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.