Features

Berkeley firefighters haven’t had any serious flames to battle in recent days, but several beneficiaries of their services were on hand Friday when badges were pinned on three newly promoted members of Berkeley’s bravest. 

Chris Pinto, a 28-year veteran of the department, was raised to assistant fire chief, said Deputy Chief Gil Dong. 

Pinto, who will head the department’s training and emergency medical services division, is the scion of a firefighting family. 

His father and two brothers are firefighters, serving with the Oakland, Livermore-Pleasanton and Alameda County departments. 

Chuck Wong, a 13-year BFD veteran, received his captain’s badge. There’s another Wong promotion ahead, said Deputy Chief Dong. Capt. Wong’s black Labrador, Kino, will soon be certified as a rescue dog. 

Kellie East-Bratt received a lieutenant’s badge. An eight-year Berkeley firefighter, she served as training coordinator for the last two classes to graduate from the department’s academy. 

Also on hand Friday were members of two families who presented certificates of appreciation to firefighters who had helped save their lives. 

A 31-year-old woman presented the honor to firefighters who saved her after she collapsed of a heart attack at the restaurant where she worked. Also on hand was her 2-year-old son. 

The second presentation was made to firefighters who assisted a severely ill patient to a helicopter life flight from Alta Bates Summit Medical Center to the hospital at Stanford University.