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LAKEPORT, Calif. – In the past 125 years, firefighting has remained both dangerous and critically important, with another common denominator being the courage and dedication of the individuals engaged in that work.
In 1884, when the fire department for Lakeport was formed, firefighters – known as “fire boys” up until the 1950s – had as their chief equipment leather buckets and rain barrels strategically placed around town, which they used in a “bucket brigade” when fighting fires.
Contrast that with today, when firefighters have turnouts, breathing apparatus and tools – including hoses replacing those leather buckets – and are aided by an array of technology that those fire boys couldn’t have imagined. But it’s still dangerous work that requires dedication and courage, but which has created many a hero in the decades since.
Despite grave danger, tight budgets and growing challenges, the firefighters of today persevere and are an important part of the community, and Lakeport Fire’s long history of putting out fires, protecting residents and responding to medical emergencies is being celebrated.
This month, the Lakeport Fire Protection District is marking its 125th anniversary, and to commemorate that milestone, the State Legislature has passed a resolution honoring the district, which was delivered to the district during a Tuesday afternoon ceremony.
State Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry secured the resolution, which McGuire said is the Legislature’s highest honor.
McGuire was on hand to present the framed resolution to interim Chief Rick Bergem, district firefighters and staff, and board members in the ceremony held in the engine bay of the district’s headquarters Station 50 in downtown Lakeport.
Aguiar-Curry could not make the event, and was represented by her district director, Tracy Krumpen, who delivered Aguiar-Curry’s heartfelt thanks and congratulations.
On hand for the event were the five fire board directors, Don Davidson, Alan Flora – who also is the city manager for Clearlake – as well as Bill Gabe, John Whitehead and Randy Williams.
They were joined by numerous city and county representatives, including Lakeport City Council members Stacey Mattina, George Spurr and Mireya Turner; Board of Supervisors Chair Tina Scott and Supervisor Rob Brown; Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira and city Community Development Director Kevin Ingram; and County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.
McGuire said that he doesn’t think there has been a busier fire district in the state of California than Lakeport. “Since 2015, it’s been a hell of a ride,” he said, recounting the long list of fires that have battered the county since then.
Of those it was last year’s River fire, part of the Mendocino Complex, that was feared would destroy Lakeport. The city was completely evacuated as firefighters battled to control the fire.
McGuire said he’d heard many times last year that Lakeport might not make it, but the little city did, and Lakeport’s fire district was credited with helping save the city.
Recognizing Lakeport Fire for a tradition of excellence, McGuire said no other county in California has been as impacted by wildland fires as Lake County.
In accepting the honor, Bergem said he was thinking of what it was like for those early 1800s firefighters with their leather buckets, working as part of the bucket brigade.
When the department was first established it became the Rescue Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, which is the name painted on the district’s current ladder truck. They also had two hose carts drawn by the men and a hook and ladder rig, Bergem explained.
He said the department acquired its first chemical engine in the 1920s. The department still has it, and it sat in the bay not far from where the ceremony took place.
While he acknowledged the changes in technology, Bergem also pointed to a constant. “The one thing that hasn’t changed is the heart and soul of the firefighters.”
That heart and soul was called on last year, when the district’s firefighters came out in force to protect the city, along with Cal Fire personnel and firefighters from other parts of the state. Bergem said they staffed five engines for 10 days straight during the Mendocino Complex.
Supervisor Scott credited the district’s firefighters with helping save the city. “Because of you, Lakeport still stands.”
She added, “There’s no words that can express what you have done for our community. It’s still here, we’re still all together and that’s everything for many of us.”
Turner, quoting an article on the importance of heroes, said heroes heal, nourish connections with other people and turn others into heroes.
She thanked the men and women of Lakeport Fire Protection District.
“You all are heroes in our community and you benefit us all in ways that you actually can’t even imagine,” Turner said.
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