Firefighter News - May 2018

By Battalion Chief Darrin DeCarli, Gold Ridge Fire Protection District

We are only seven months removed from one of the most devastating disasters to hit Sonoma County and it seems like fire season is already right around the corner. With this being said, you will repeatedly be getting information from your local fire departments regarding defensible space and what you can do to keep your house fire-safe. The following link takes you to a great informational tool to use in helping to make you and your family ready for fire season. readyforwildfire.org/Ready-Set-Go-Campaign/.

Cal Fire put together this document outlining how to “harden” your home in the urban interface, what you should do when wildfire is approaching and what to consider for evacuation purposes.

Please remember to keep 100’ of clearance (or up to property lines) around structures on your property. Please remember to use the appropriate tool for the job (don’t use a lawn mower or lawn tractor to mow high weeds, use a high weed mower). Please remember to mow early and mow often. When clearing weeds and debris from your property, please remember to clear early in the morning and have extinguishing tools at your disposal.

Please contact your local fire department for more information regarding defensible space and fire prevention in the wildland urban interface.

Gold Ridge Fire:

On Saturday, April 21, the Gold Ridge Fire District will be celebrating their 50th anniversary of their Firefighter Explorer Post. A celebration will be held at the Twin Hills Station where former Explorers will be able to catch up and share stories.goldridgefire.org (707) 823-5401

Pancake Breakfast: Gold Ridge Firefighter’s Association (Twin Hills Station, 1690 Watertrough Rd, Sebastopol) Pancake Breakfast is June 3rd and the Hessel Volunteer Firefighter Association’s (Hessel Station, 4500 Hessel Rd, Sebastopol) is June 10th.

Bodega Bay Fire:

Thank you everyone who attended the annual Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival. Saturday was one for the record books. Sunday was also very well attended despite the rain.

The Bodega Bay Firefighters Association did very well selling their T’shirts, sweaters, and various other items.

BBFPD welcomes our newest volunteer member Benjamin Krauskopf. Ben was sworn in at our March Board meeting.

As the spring rains end, the grass will begin to grow very fast with our sunny weather. Please keep grass, brush, weeds, and other flammable materials cleaned up around your homes.

Visit us online at bbfpd.org or like us on Facebook.

Forestville Fire:

The Forestville Firefighters Association would like to thank the community for their support of our annual Easter Egg Hunt. We had over 250 children attend and search for eggs. We could not do this event without the support of the businesses in the area that provided us with generous donations.

Our donors were: Forestville Firefighters Association, Forestville Pharmacy, Clover Stornetta, Kirsten Franceschi, Sonoma County Gazette, and Sebastopol Safeway.

In addition to the Easter Egg hunt, we had the annual coloring contest. This year’s winners by age group were: Age 4 Julia Origer, Age 5 Carter Gatzke, Age 6 Kaelyn Meiggs, Age 7 Sophia Lee Gradney, Age 8 Jayda Johnson, Age 9 Alejandro Pedraza, Age 10 Delanie Linke, Age 11 Destiny Taylor, Age 12 Amadeo Vidrio Barrera and the overall Grand Prize winner was Kaitlyn Pollio. Congratulations to all the winners!

May 6 ~ Pancake Breakfast with eggs, sausage, coffee, orange juice and milk. The price for adults is $7 and $5 for kids and Seniors. We’ll have t-shirts and sweat shirts for sale, the Fire Safety Trailer, Free Book Mobile for the kids and a raffle with great prizes. 6554 Mirabel Rd, Forestville, forestvillefire.org (707) 887-2212

Graton Fire:

Pancake Breakfast – Sunday, May 20 The 40th annual Graton Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast takes place at our fire station on3750 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol. gratonfire.com (707) 823-5515

As you know, the Graton community has made our breakfast one of the biggest and best anywhere in Sonoma County. It is our one and only fundraiser to support the volunteers. Last year, over 1,500 people attend the breakfast... this may be a new record! We will have Fire Engines, Police Cars, Ambulances, SWAT Tank, and Helicopters on display for the kids as well as other displays.

THANK YOU To all of the people who have donated raffle prizes!

The menu includes all you can eat pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, Manzana apple juice, orange juice, milk, hot chocolate, tea and coffee.This year—we’re adding fresh cut fruit to the menu!!! Gluten-free pancakes and sugar-free syrup are available... just ask! Price is still $5 adults and $3 kids. 7am to noon. T-shirts, sweatshirts, glasses, and other items will be on sale at the breakfast. Address signs can be made “while-you-eat.” Hope to see you there!

Russian River Fire:

The Russian River Firefighters Association is hosting their annual Barbeque after the Stumptown Daze Parade on May 12. Food will be served from noon until about 6pm. Please come down and support your local firefighters!DOWNTOWN GUERNEVILLE!

The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be on May 9that 6pm at the fire station. We hope you’ll consider attending. russianriverfire.org