LAKEPORT, Calif. — The fundraising efforts of the Lakeport Fire Volunteers Association are making possible the purchase of a new piece of equipment for the Lakeport Fire Protection District.

On Thursday evening, the fire district board of directors held a special meeting to discuss just one item — granting permission for the district to accept a donation to purchase a utility terrain vehicle and the accompanying trailer.

The Can Am Defender vehicle, or UTV, will be used by the district for an off-road rescue program.

The volunteers raised $36,200, which will cover the entire purchase; the UTV costs $31,200 and the trailer costs $5,000.

Capt. Spencer Johnson, on behalf of the Lakeport Fire Volunteers Association, presented Chief Patrick Reitz with the $36,200 check during the Thursday meeting.

Johnson told Lake County News that the firefighters association raised the funds through several sources.

Those included putting on a comedy show at Konocti Harbor last year, a Haunted Lake County donation in 2022, proceeds from a slide at the Dickens Festival and money the volunteers had already raised from past fundraisers, Johnson said.

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