Table of Contents
2008
Whittlesey Fire
2007
New Water Tanks at Station 1
2005
Cherry Festival Parade
Constitution Day Parade
2004
New Water Tender
Bus Extrication Training
1940
Future Site of Station 3
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Fire At Whittlesey Salvage Yard
May 4, 2008
On Sunday afternoon, May 4, a customer removing parts from a junked vehicle with a cutting torch started a fire. At one point, about 50 vehicles were threatened, although only about 25 of them eventually suffered any damage from the fire. Included were two school buses that were used for a major extrication training in 2004 for firefighters from several agencies. Water tenders with a combined capacity of over 10,000 gallons of water were present at the incident. However, California OES official on scene were concerned about potential hydrocarbon runoff into nearby Shady Creek, and NSJ Fire Chief Boyd Johnson decided that only NSJ fire engines, all of which are equiped with compressed air foam, be used to fight the fire. As a result, only 700 gallons of water were used, and no environmental damage was sustained!
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New Water Tanks At Station 1
September, 2007
To increase the water available to fight fires in the downtown North San Juan vicinity, two new 5000-gallon tanks have been installed at Station 1. This increased the firefighting water available at this site by 66%. One 5000-gallon tank was also installed at Station 2 in French Corral, providing a resource where none had existed before. Thanks to Sigi and Cheri Knoll, of Earth and Road Works, Inc., for donating the labor and expertise necessary for these installations.
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Cherry Festival Parade
June, 2005
In 2005 the Cherry Festival Parade was held on June 11. As usual, the NSJVFD and Cal Fire put on quite a show, and a good time was had by all! Wilbur and Charlene Welker, mainstays of the community and long-time supporters of the Fire Department, were the parade Grand Marshals.
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Constitution Day Parade
September, 2005
Nevada City’s Constitution Day Parade for 2005 was held on September 11, with the theme “Women of the Gold Rush.” We decided, therefore, that we would have a theme of “Women of the NSJFPD.” Our parade entry featured our historic hose cart, dating from the early days of the department, and several women currently or recently active within the fire protection district. Interestingly enough, our entry won the “Best Equestrian Entry” award, even though we had no horses, and the hose cart was made to be people-powered, not horse-drawn!
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New Water Tender
September, 2004
On September 7, 2004, we took delivery of a new water tender. Christened 6191, it replaced water tender 6195, which had become somewhat long in the tooth. Purchased with a $171,000 grant from FEMA, plus $19,000 in matching funds from the District, 6191 has a capacity of 3500 gallons of water, which can be delivered through a pumping system capable of delivering 500 gallons of water per minute. Built by West-Mark, 6191 boasts a stainless steel tank rated for potable water if needed in a large-scale emergency.
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Bus Extrication Training
March, 2004
One of the worst emergencies that have a realistic chance of happening on the Ridge is an accident involving a school bus loaded with children. On March 28, 2004, the NSJVFD organized a training exercise to gain experience with such an event. Neighboring fire districts were invited to participate, and students from Grizzly Hill School acted as victims. Taber Whittlesey, as he has done before, generously allowed us to use his facilities for the training site.
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Future Site of Bellett Fire Station (Station 3)
Sometime in the 1940s
In the glory days of the timber industry, one of the literally hundreds of small lumber mills in Nevada County was the Baker Mill, located directly across the street from the present NSJVFD Station 3. This fire station was built in 1998 on land donated by the Bellett family, and was appropriately named in honor of their generosity. In the picture, taken looking north to the station site on the hillside, Tyler-Foote Xing Road runs left-to-right on the other side of the building, and on this side of the fence posts. A piece of Oak Tree Road is visible above the building at the upper right. Thanks to Taber Whittlesey for the picture.