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In Summer of 2004, Modesto Fire Department began a pilot program to provide advanced life support to its
citizens. All thirteen department companies are staffed to provide basic life support, but the July Open
House began a project to bring advance life saving capabilities to
Station 4's engine company. For this pilot, Engine 24 responded with at least one paramedic providing
advanced life saving equipment and service. The Pilot program was successful and today the department
staffs one engine with at least one paramedic 24/7.
Meet MFD's Paramedics
Captain Michele Triplett
Michele Triplett is a Captain-Paramedic. She started her career in Emergency
Medical Service by first obtaining her Emergency Medical Technician -1 certification through Modesto Junior
College. She began working for Modesto-Ceres Ambulance (now American Medical Response) in August of 1982.
Graduating from the Stanislaus County paramedic program in 1984, she spent a year working for Westside
Community Ambulance in Newman followed by nine years with Doctors Ambulance where she became a supervisor
and training officer for the Region. In 1994, Michele began combining her paramedic skills with firefighting
at Piedmont Fire Department and in January of 1995 joined the Modesto Fire Department. She has maintained her
skills and medical license promoting to Captain in December, 2002.
Mark Gonzales
Mark Gonzales is a Captain-Paramedic. Mark started his career in February of
1992 when he joined the Modesto Fire Department as a Firefighter-EMT. In 1998, Mark put himself through the
paramedic program offered by the local Mountain-Valley EMS Agency and Columbia College and was certified in
1999. In September of that year, Mark accepted a position as a Firefighter-Paramedic with the City of Santa
Clara Fire Department. After working for 16 months with Santa Clara, Mark returned to Modesto to resume his
career in firefighting. He was instrumental in the coordination of the refresher training program for the
current group of Paramedics participating in the ALS Pilot Program and we are grateful to have him back
serving our community.
Ted Davis
Ted Davis started his career as an Emergency Medical Technician in Quincy,
California with the local volunteer fire department and also worked for the local hospital. In January,
1987 he continued his career with the Hartson Medical Service who contracted ambulance service with the
Oceanside Fire Department. Two years later, Ted had an opportunity to work for the Peninsula Fire District
at Lake Almanor as a Firefighter/EMT. When that fire district moved from a Basic Life Service agency to an
Advanced Life Service agency, Ted studied for his EMT-II certification and then continued on to attain
paramedic certification in 1994. In 1997, Ted joined Modesto Firefighters and now is one of our own.
Robert Etcheverry
Robert Etcheverry (or Bob as we all call him) started his career as an Emergency
Medical Technician and soon became a paramedic through Columbia College. He worked for American Medical
Response in 1989 and then joined the Modesto ranks in September of 2000. He is a Firefighter-Paramedic.
Jesse Nicasio
Hired in February of 1992, Jesse Nicasio is a Captain-Paramedic with the Modesto
Fire Department. He is a second generation professional firefighter with over thirteen years experience.
Jesse started his career with the Industrial Fire Protection District in South Modesto as a Firefighter-EMT.
He was certified as a paramedic in 1999 through the Mountain Valley EMS Agency program and Columbia College.
Throughout his career with Modesto's Fire Department, Jesse has served as one of the department's instructors
and has taught at the
Modesto Junior College-Regional Fire Training Center.
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