The Lucerne Firefighters Association will hold its annual salmon dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Lucerne Station and District Office, 6257 Seventh Ave.
This is the 15th year the association has put on the event, which is its largest fundraiser of the year, said Northshore Fire Chief Jim Robbins.
While the fire district itself has consolidated, the various firefighters associations haven't, said Robbins. So each has its own main fundraiser event.
For the Clearlake Oaks station, it's a barbecue during the annual Catfish Derby, while the Upper Lake station has a trout derby at Blue Lakes and Lucerne has the salmon feed. Until recently, the Nice station had the Redbud Festival, Robbins said.
The resources of the entire district were put to the test this summer, when the Walker Fire broke out east of Clearlake Oaks.
Northshore Fire and districts around the lake were the first on the scene when the fire was spotted June 22, as Lake County News has reported.
Within days Cal Fire took over command of the incident, but local firefighters were a critical part of that effort. Robbins and his firefighters were on the scene, guarding homes in the evacuated Double Eagle Ranch subdivision, which the fire threatened.
The fire, which investigators concluded was triggered by a vehicle hitting a rock in the remote Benmore Canyon area, burned a total of 14,500 acres.
Robbins said the district has to keep money aside for such large incidents as the Walker Fire. They also have to be ready to respond to such massive casualty incidents as that which took place in Colusa County late Sunday. Northshore Fire sent three ambulances and a battalion chief to assist in that situation.
Fundraising efforts like the upcoming salmon feed put much-needed funds to other uses. The money that comes from the event will stay at the Lucerne station. Robbins said the association usually puts the earnings toward new pieces of medical equipment.
“Mainly they go after things that are medically oriented because we have so many medical calls,” he said.
Northshore Fire also recently received help from the Lake County Redevelopment Agency. On Sept. 23 the Board of Supervisors – sitting as the agency's board of directors – approved giving the district $100,000 for the purchase of a new fire truck.
“We actually have the truck, we needed to finish paying it off,” said Robbins.
The engine, which is stationed at Lucerne, is a 1,250-gallon-per-minute pumper truck. Robbins said it's an engine that can be used both for wildland and structure fires. The district wants to phase in that kind of multi-use equipment, he added.
The annual salmon fundraiser usually serves around 200 people, said Robbins. This year's event will take place up the district's upstairs meeting room. Firefighters will serve the sitdown dinner.
Lucerne firefighter/paramedic Chrissy Pittman reported that the meal will begin with a fresh antipasto plate, followed by a fresh dinner salad with choice of dressing.
Pittman said the dinner's main course is fresh salmon, baby red potatoes and a vegetable medley. There will be a large assortment of homemade desserts to finish off the meal. A bar set up for the event will offer beer, wine and cocktails for an additional cost.
Tickets are available now from a Lucerne firefighter, at the Lucerne Firehouse before the event or at the door; Pittman said tickets are $15 each or two for $25.
For more information call Northshore Fire's Lucerne station, 274-3100.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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