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  GregD1 month, 3 weeks ago

  Yeah for Mendocino County! I was on two departments in Mendocino County, Laytonville Fire and Ukiah Fire. Volunteers are the backbone of departments all throughout California. When I was with Laytonville Fire, we had an engine that was supplied to us by OES (Office of Emergency Services) which was paid for by the State. The idea was that this rig could be staffed and sent anywhere in the State if needed. The coolest thing was that it would have been completely staffed with volunteers because we only had one paid member at the time, our Battalion Chief.

  Although I never had the chance to go, we were frequently called up for strike teams and sent anywhere in the State.

  Great article that recalls many fond memories.

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    GregD1 month, 3 weeks ago

    I also have to relay a story about Mendocino Fire, which is on the coast a little south of Elk and Comptche (which is where the above article is about).

    Mendocino fire used to have one of the oldest Chiefs in the country, Foggy Gomes. I believe at the time he was around 70 or 80 years old.

    One day I'm listening to Mendocino Fire get dispatched to a grass fire during the middle of the summer. When a grass fire occurs, they send the world and cancel staff enroute if need be. They ordered up a tanker, copter, CDF engines, Mendocino Fire, etc.

    Well Foggy Gomes is the first on scene and radioes back to Howard Forest (our main dispatch center).

    Foggy: "Howard Forest, Mendocino Fire"

    Howard Forest: "Go ahead Mendocino Fire"

    Foggy: "I'm on scene and this fire is no bigger than a wheelbarrow"

    Howard Forest: "Copy Mendocino Fire. Fire is no bigger than a wheelbarrow.."

    I've never laughed so hard in my life..

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