HISTORY

On May 14, 1877, the minutes of the first Fire Department meeting report that “Pursuant to public notice calling together the signers to a subscription for the purpose of organizing a Hook and Ladder Company in the town of Fort Jones [citizens] met in the room in the rear of the S. J. Downing Saloon.” During that meeting, approximately 25 men “subscribed their names as permanent members of the company.”

For gear, these brave men had only a bell tower with a small shed housing a hose cart capable of carrying 1,000 feet of 2 ½-inch hose. Water supply was limited to a maximum of 90 psi and bucket brigades. In case of an emergency, a first responder ran to the bell tower and rang the alarm bell. Other firefighters rushed the hose cart to the scene of the incident, connected the hose to the hydrant, and began spraying water. Supporting citizens would form simultaneous bucket brigades to further quench the flames.

The volunteers achieved many victories against fire, including one iconic incident. According to a newspaper article, the Old Central Hotel building caught fire at approximately 6 PM on August 14, 1894. Within 20 minutes, the entire building--including the barber shop, fruit stand, salon, and photo gallery within--was engulfed in flames. Citizens feared the entire business portion of Fort Jones would be reduced to ash. Nearly everyone in town joined the firefighting effort as men, women, and even children formed bucket brigades to protect surrounding buildings and drown out the flames. In the end, the hotel building and the Odd Fellows building to the north were total losses. However, many of the items inside the building were saved and many of the town’s businesses stood strong.

In another iconic incident nearly 40 years later, Gus Reichman’s woodshed containing his son’s lab caught fire. Firefighters and citizens rushed to the scene. One citizen, Doc Messner, began spraying water on the fire with the 2 ½-inch hose. Concerned about the damage that such large amounts of pressurized water could cause, Mr. Reichman got the message through to shut off the water. With flames still continuing their destructive work, someone else yelled for the water to be turned back on. Back and forth it went until someone finally grabbed the hydrant wrench out of the man’s hand and threw it across the street. The water was left on and the firefighting effort was, at last, successful.

It was immediately decided that somebody had to be in charge of the department. A meeting was promptly held and Martin Larsen was elected the first Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Department Chief. Following Chief Larsen, Ed Goodwin, Burt Gower, Ernie Smith, Warren Nelson, Ken Burton, Tony Shelly, and Homer Burton served as chiefs until 1951 when Dick Luttrell became chief and dates of service began being recorded.

In 1933, the department purchased its first engine, a 1932 Chevy 1 ½ ton pickup. Volunteers built a hose rack onto the pickup and outfitted it with lights, sirens, and other emergency equipment.

In 1940, Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Department, with the help of the county, purchased its first resuscitator. Then, in 1950, a first aid squad was formed, and the following year the department purchased its first fire trucks. With the purchase of additional equipment, the fire department moved to a new hall on Main Street near the city post office, which was better able to handle the growing organization.

In 1981, a dream came together for Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Department. Volunteers had worked tirelessly fundraising through their annual fireworks sale, auctions, and other ventures. Completely paid for by funds raised and the sale of the Main Street station, the department moved into its current location, a 5,000 sq ft building which houses a total of five pieces of apparatus, an office where business is conducted and volunteers can hang out, and even a small kitchen area. A mobile home was later added in the back which provides a place for firefighters participating in the department’s sleeper program to stay while attending fire academy and staffing the station on days off.

In 1990, following the hard work of Chief Mike Purdy, the fire department received a grant from the McConnell foundation for the purchase of a heavy duty one ton vehicle to replace the old 1967 International pickup which the department had purchased second hand over a decade prior. The brand new Ford was put into operation in April 1991 as Rescue 1340 equipped with medical supplies, vehicle extrication, and scene lighting equipment. Rescue 1340 was dedicated to the memory of Siskiyou County Firefighter Dave Erickson with a special ceremony in May 1991.

Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Department has continued to steadily grow ever since, all the while paying proud attention to maintaining its reputation as one of the best departments in the county, with fastest response times, well-trained firefighters, and reliable emergency medical responders.

In 2008 Fort Jones Fire Department wrote a successful grant for a brand new 4x4 Type 3 Wildland Urban Interface Engine.  The grant was written by Chief Chris Baker.  This was a huge step in providing unanticipated revenue and allowing the department volunteers to participate in the State Mutual Aid System where they would respond all over the State of California assisting in Wildland and Emergency Incidents. 

A huge step toward improving the department began in August 2017 when Assistant Chief Chris Baker’s application submission for the SAFER grant was approved. Administered by FEMA, the SAFER (staffing for adequate fire and emergency response) grant provides funding for the department’s first full-time position, that of a recruitment and retention coordinator, along with additional funds for department uniforms, equipment, and training. In the peak of summer 2017, the department was able to achieve an impressive volunteer staffing of Truck 1320 to a fire in Yreka and two out-of-county engines and still respond multiple people on Rescue 1340 to a medical aid in Fort Jones.

Today, Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Department boasts a fleet of two Type I engines, two Type III engines, and a rescue, along with two chief officer vehicles. The department is held together by dedicated officers: Chief Joseph Hess, Lieutenants Breanna Buker and Brad Leiferman; two seasonal paid firefighters, and our dedicated volunteers. Together, these individuals maintain not only an impressive training attendance, but also the exceptional legacy of always responding to every single call we’re dispatched to.