California – Lakeport Fire celebrates new engine, holds swearing-in ceremony for newest staff – Lake County News
Lakeport Fire Protection District firefighters and board members took part in a “push in” ceremony welcoming the district’s new Pierce Enforcer 1500 Type 1 pumper engine on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Fire Protection District celebrated the addition of new equipment and new staff in a special Saturday morning ceremony.
Community members and leaders of city and county agencies gathered in the bay of Lakeport Fire’s Station 50 in the city’s downtown to officially welcome the fire district’s newest engine and five new paid staffers.
The Pierce Enforcer 1500 Type 1 pumper engine can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute and is equipped for up to four crew members, said Chief Jeffrey Thomas.
It has 1,000 feet of supply line, 800 feet of make up attack line and 400 feet of preconnected quick attack line, Thomas said.
Thomas said it’s distinguished from a fire “truck,” which has a ladder.
The engine has special touches including having the department’s logo sewn into its seats, and an American flag painted on its grill.
Thomas told Lake County News that the engine, which was ordered more than a year ago, cost $800,000, and was made possible by the Measure M fire tax, which voters approved in May 2019.
Ten years is the average age for fire engines, but Thomas said it’s not unusual to have the equipment for 20 years.
Having the newer and reliable equipment is important to Lakeport Fire’s mission of protecting the community. “We are the first line of defense,” said Thomas.
Thomas’ staff brought him the idea for the “push in” ceremony. It reenacts how fire brigades used to push the horse-drawn pumper into its stall close to where the horses would be kept.
While more of an East Coast tradition in origin, Thomas said it’s now going to be a Lakeport tradition, noting, “It makes sense.”
Lakeport Fire Protection District celebrated its new Pierce Enforcer 1500 Type 1 pumper engine on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
He thanked the district’s board members for their support in purchasing the new engine.
In addition to Thomas, speakers at the Saturday morning event included Fire Board Chair John Whitehead, Lakeport City Councilman Michael Green, District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott, City Manager Kevin Ingram and Sheriff Brian Martin.
Green thanked Thomas for his vision. He also noted the nearly 75% yes vote for Measure M offered by the community. “You did this,” he said of bringing the new engine to Lakeport.
Ingram and Martin both lauded Thomas for his work with their agencies to make the community safer.
After the speakers, the group moved outside and the firefighters and board members joined together to push the engine as it was being backed into the bay.
Following the engine’s introduction, Thomas held a brief ceremony to swear in firefighter/emergency medical technician Nathan Barnett, paramedic Derek Reisbeck, firefighter/paramedic John Tyson, firefighter Sean Thomas and firefighter …….
