By Jeremy Couso
When you are in charge of a huge rural fire district, with limited resources, it can be frustrating to try and maintain a high standard of protection. Chief Bruce Skehan from the Madeline Fire Protection District knows this reality all too well – his department’s territory covers an immense section of northeastern Lassen County from the Modoc County line south to Grasshopper road along the Highway 395 corridor and until last week, despite the size of their response area, Skehan and his six volunteers have had to make do with two 500-gallon fire engines of late 1960’s vintage.
Now thanks to the efforts of the Lassen County Office of Emergency Services, California OES and the generosity of the Andersen and Chico fire departments, the Madeline firefighters have a new engine, improving response times and offering more reliable year-round fire protection for area residents.
The fully equipped 2004 International fire engine, worth between $250,000 and $280,000, was sold to Madeline for a mere $1 by the Anderson Fire Department. Both Chico and Anderson Fire Departments contributed personal turnout gear and equipment valued at $1,500 for each of Skehan’s volunteers who were trained in the use of the new apparatus.
Ken Hood, Assistant Chief for the California Office of Emergency Services, was instrumental in brokering the deal for Madeline’s new equipment. Hood worked closely with Lassen OES Chief Eric Ewing to make the exchange happen.
“We wanted to support Bruce’s efforts,” explains Hood, who works with 13 northstate counties in his OES district, “This means better fire protection for Madeline.”
Surprise!
Deputy Chief Howard Fincher and Fire Captain Phil McNeal from the Anderson Fire Department were on-hand last Wednesday to surprise Chief Skehan with the new engine at the Susanville Cal-Fire headquarters west of town. Skehan came to Susanville under the impression that he was simply picking up supplies but instead found an engine with the Madeline Fire District’s emblem painted on the doors.
What kind of difference will the engine make? According to Skehan he can now respond to an incident and not worry that mechanical trouble will interfere with arriving on-scene or making the trip back home to Madeline. With a crucially dry summer looming on the horizon the new engine might make a difference between a quickly extinguished brush-fire and devastation.
Chief Skehan is always looking for volunteers for his district and, with such a sparse population, the task of recruiting is never an easy one. If you are reading this and would like to become a volunteer firefighter for the Madeline department simply call Chief Bruce Skehan at 530.277.5486.
