California Rural has come a long way making its progress from a shared facility, with one truck, to a fire protection district with five facilities and 16 trucks. From then to now, California Rural Fire Protection District (CRFPD) has come a long way. And its only been 61 years.
California Rural Fire started with a single fire truck operating out of a bay in a facility at the California City Hall at the corner of Stella and High streets. The firehouse was shared with the California City Fire Department.
The California Rural Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1954. In 1969, the department relocated to a facility on Railroad Avenue. In 1999, it was reorganized as a fire protection district, supported by a tax levy.
The department has expanded from the single white 1954 GMC fire engine, purchased new, for the rural volunteer fire department to 16 trucks, including a half-dozen brush trucks, three pumper trucks, four tankers and three pumper/tankers. Within the last year, the district acquired a pumper tanker with 2,500 gallon tank and 1,250 gallons-a-minute pump. Currently, an effort is being made to replace the older equipment with newer equipment.
The ultimate goal is to lower the Insurance Service Offices (ISO) ratings. The lower the ISO rating, the lower the insurance costs for district patrons.
The single bay housing the one 1954 fire truck is long gone, having given way to the district's present five stations, each of which is much larger than a single bay. Fire Station One on Jefferson City Road is the largest station at 120 feet by 60 feet. It has five bays for fire fighting equipment, an office, training room and conference room. Station Two is at McGirk; Station Three, South Highway 87 near the junction with Route T; Station Four, North Highway 87 at Kliever; and Station Five, Clarksburg.
Now, just over six decades after beginning operation, the California Rural Fire Protection District (CRFPD) retains little of it's original makeup, except for being governed by a five-member board which was set up in 1999.
Present board members are President David Strobel, Vice President Glen Bayne, Secretary/Treasurer Shelly Hampton, members Steve Pate and Chris Clifford. Fire chief is Steve Walters, Clifford is deputy chief, and the two assistant fire chief are Robert Borts and Shawn Merrill. The department remains steady with about 30 firefighters.
Contact Walters, a board member or one of the firefighters if interested in becoming a firefighter. Or leave a message at 573-796-2422.