I’ve got a suggestion to make. Let’s change the name of the Vacaville Fire Department to Vacaville Emergency Services. I have my doubts about the council buying this suggestion, but it’s something for them to think about.
In recent months, firefighters’ disputes have been garnering column after column of space in The Reporter, with the latest episode being the resignation of Chief Dale Geldert. It is not my intention to comment on any of the problems faced by firefighters in upper Solano County.
Having been a volunteer firemen for 18 years, I just want to reminisce back and relive some of those interesting moments in the days of Vacaville’s fire eaters.
Many years before the turn of the century, when Vacaville was a “stop in the, road” community of frame buildings, there was constant discussion on means of improving firefighting techniques here. For many years the ringing of a bell summoned anyone who wanted to fight a fire, to jump a ride on a buggy or to run to the fire.
The equipment used in the early days were extinguishers, many of them placed strategically on power poles throughout the community. The water wagon and buckets were next in line, and then when Vacaville had its first running water supplied by the infant Vacaville Water and Light Company, firefighting took a big step forward with the addition of hose carts.
These carts were two-wheel hand drawn contraptions, with a quantity of hose wrapped around the center shaft.
The Vacaville Water and Light Company had dug a small hole in the ground on the hill just off Vine Street, had it cemented and covered, and it was the town’s reserve water supply.
Many were the times when firemen hooked their hoses to downtown hydrants, only to find the pressure too low to reach a fire in a two-story building.
The town council in 1895 thought it about time to get rid of the hose company, and asked that a fire department be formed. The only change noted was in the name, because the town did not have any fire fighting equipment.
I have in my possession perhaps the first minute book kept by the early fire department. The first entries start in January 1909. Throughout that book are listed the roster of local men who served, and it can plainly be seen that the department considered prominence of an individual in the community, as well as his abilities, in judging the person for membership.
Throughout the decade, Vacaville’s firemen have answered thousands of alarms for fires. One such, which occurred in January, 1915, can be credited with igniting the spark which brought about the purchase of the town’s first mechanized engine in 1916. The house was being occupied by newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Frank McKevitt, Jr., on Buck Avenue. Leial McKevitt was from the prominent Lindley wholesale grocery company in Sacramento and he was a member of the prominent pioneer ranch family here. The fire scarred the dignity of local firemen, as the structure burned to the ground.
It would take column after column to review the many fires in the local area going back to before the turn of the century. Although many of these fires are a catastrophe for those living in or owning the structures, there is no greater loss than when fires claim human lives, such as occurred here on Aug. 3, 1980. The visiting Raul Isais family, staying at 372 Elsinore Drive perished; the father, mother and three of their children. I do not recall at any other time when a local fire snuffed out so many lives.
To the Vacaville Fire Volunteer Department goes credit for initiating the first emergency life saving program in Vacaville. Back in 1945, through public subscription, the sum of $700 was raised, and a life-saving instrument called a resuscitator was purchased.
From that suitcase-sized resuscitator was born the present paramedic program, which was voted by local area taxpayers back in 1976, and permits an assessment of 12 cents on every $100 of assessable valuation to raise funds for the operation of the program. Like Little Topsy, the program has grown rapidly, arid is also costly.
There are reasons for casually suggesting changing the name of the department to Vacaville Emergency Services. Chief Geldert supplied me with activity figures of his department for the first seven months of this year. Out of a total of 1,394 alarms received at the station, 973 were for paramedic assistance. Out of those 973 calls there were 55 transports to area hospitals. During the seven months there were calls for fires in 53 structures; but the sad and costly aspect of fire calls is the fact that in the seven-month period there were 68 grass fires; 29 fires in rubbish; 52 false alarms; 23 smoke scares, and a long list of other miscellaneous calls.
That’s the reason the department budget is over a million dollar annual expenditure.
Longevity honors for service to the department go to the late Joseph Libonati, with 45 years; the late Louis Mohr, 35; the late Henry Schielke, 33; the late Fred Pyle 31, and G. Warren Hughes 30.
The part taken by Warren Hughes in local area firefighting for 30 years has been printed many times. He worked himself from the ranks of the volunteers to become the department’s first full-time paid fire chief, and served in that capacity for 16 years.
Hughes’ successor, Howard Woods a volunteer fireman, a former bartender and a PG&E employee, became chief of the department in 1971, and retired in 1979.
During the many decades of the volunteer fire department here, calls not only for fires but for many sundry and miscellaneous services were requested. “My cat is perched atop a power pole. Please get it down.” “My small boy has not come home from school, I think he was kidnapped or is lost. Please help us find him.”
The paramedics today, under the supervision of the fire department, get their share of calls which could be classed as out of the ordinary, but as figures show, they respond to such requests on an average of approximately three times a day, every day in the year. If you have a problem, simply dial 911 for emergency services and you can ask for a fireman, a paramedic, or a police officer.
The paramedics have replaced the old country doctor - they make house calls.
Link: http://articles.solanohistory.net/7059/ | Solano History Database Record
Printed From: http://articles.solanohistory.net/7059/ | http://www.solanohistory.org/record/7059
Vacaville Heritage Council