Fire Fighter News - July 2017

June 26, 2017

Bodega Volunteer Fire

You may or may not have noticed that Bodega Fire has a new emergency response vehicle. We have received grant funds from

Join us Sunday, August 6th, 2017 for the 37th Annual Bodega Fire Big Event BBQ A full day of family fun. Day starts out with Sonoma County’s Shortest Parade at 10:30am through downtown Bodega. Free admission. Live music from 10:45am- 5pm. Enjoy BBQ chicken and tri-tip lunch served with salad, beans and garlic bread. Adults $15, Child $8. Beer on tap, wine, mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. Desserts, kids games, and craft vendors. Pet Friendly. Free Parking. All proceeds benefit Bodega Volunteer Fire Department. More info: 707-876-9438 or bodegafire.org. Event held in Downtown Bodega: 17184 Bodega Hwy.

Graton Fire

Defensive Driving – Overcorrecting

On June 12th, this driver on Frei Road overcorrected after drifting off the right side of the road. His instinct was to immediately cut the wheel hard to the left in order to get back on to the road. Unfortunately, that caused him to cross the roadway uncontrollably and slam into a tree – severely injuring the passenger. This is a very common cause of traffic crashes in our district.

If you ever find your tires have drifted off the shoulder, DO NOT crank the steering wheel hard left at speed... you can see the results. Instead, keep the tires pointing straight and apply the brakes until the car comes to a complete stop. Then, turn the steering wheel to the left, check for no vehicles, and slowly apply the gas pedal. Once the front tires are back on the road, the rear tires will follow. If the berm is too steep, it may require a tow truck to safely remove the vehicle – which is much better than injuring yourself, your passengers, other drivers, and totaling your car.

Defensible Space Time What are we talking about? Keeping a perimeter of mowed and/or green grass around our homes to prevent wildland fires from reaching them. 100 feet is recommended. Mow early in the day and often. We also recommend keeping flammable things away from our homes – wood piles, dead trees, bushes, etc. Go toreadyforwildfire.org to learn more.