Vista Fire Department

The Saturday Platoons preparing their meals for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

The judges for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Foreman Dan Castelhano and Lt. Phil Katz of Platoon 4 presenting their meal to the cooking competition judges

Lead Foreman Marc Baiocco and Firefighter Adam Ferman of Platoon 1 presenting their meal to the cooking competition judges

Lt. Wilmer Cervantes of Platoon 3 presenting their meal to the cooking competition judges

Capt. Brian Porco of Platoon 2 presenting their meal to the cooking competition judges

Platoon 4's Main Course for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 2's Main Course for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 1's Main Course for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 3's Main Course for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 1's dessert for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 2's dessert for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 3's dessert for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 4's dessert for the 3rd Annual Saturday Platoons cooking competition

Platoon 1 celebrating winning the 2020 Saturday Platoons Cooking Competition


By Vista Fire Department
February 2, 2020

Last night the Vista Fire Department held the 3rd Annual "Saturday Platoons Cooking Competition" at the Vista Firehouse. The Vista Fire Department "Saturday Platoons Cooking Competition" had each of the four Saturday Platoons making an appetizer, main course and dessert to be judged for bragging rights throughout this year as the best cooking platoon. The judges for this year's competition were Firefighter Steven Woodstead, Firefighter Ron Egloff, Ex-Chief Jim Hackett, Firefighter Robert Woodstead, Associate Member Brian Smith, EMT Leslie Smith and Ex-Chief Bill Dingee. After the points were tallied, this year's "Saturday Platoons Cooking Competition" was won by Platoon 1. Platoon 1 consists of Assistant Chief Mike Peck, Captain Debbie Ferman, Lead Foreman Marc Baiocco, Firefighter/EMT Ryan Ruggiero, Firefighter Adam Ferman, Firefighter Mark Albert, Probationary EMT Candidate Judith Le Gall, Firefighter Finn Brannan, Mutual Responder Jake Melcher and Probationary Firefighter Jacob Agona. The "Saturday Platoons Program" started in 2015 and currently has 40+ members spread out over four platoons on shift one Saturday each month to cover the Vista Fire District during a 12-hour span. Each Platoon is led by Officers and Foremen where our members cover the Vista Fire District starting at 1900hrs on Saturday evening until 0700hrs on Sunday morning.