Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are there so many fire departments in Plumas County?
Answer - The evolution of fire protection in Plumas County has followed typical patterns found across America throughout our history. When communities were new or really small, there typically was no fire protection. Then, something happened, like a big fire. Suddenly there was great interest in doing something. Many small communities followed through on starting something, and some did not, for various reasons including cost. Eventually growth and an increased number of fires led to small fire companies being established, almost always volunteer at the start.
The earliest fire departments began in the days before motorized vehicles, such as Quincy, in the 1870's. At that time tools like hose carts were used. Firemen (as they were called back then) had to pull a very heavy metal cart with heavy hose to the fire, and were therefore quite limited as to what they could do and how far they could go. Hose carts weighed over 1,000 pounds, sometimes as much as a ton or more. Add in the fact that streets were not paved, and you can imagine the challenges during times of rain and mud or snow. So, simply the distance to travel was a limiting factor.
If the community continued to grow, eventually the number of emergencies exceeded the ability of a volunteer system to provide adequate service. Usually this happens when the number of calls exceeded one per day, although circumstances varied. Paid firemen, as they were called back then, were hired to supplement volunteers, resulting in what was and still is called a "combination" FD. If the growth continued, the department often became fully paid at some point, such as in most communities with more than 10,000 population in California. Plumas County has several combination departments, with only one fully career department in Peninsula. Our largest community is Quincy, with a population of about 5,500 people. It is mostly volunteer, with a paid Fire Chief and Mechanic/Maintenance Manager who is also a volunteer.
We also have the United States Forest Service, or USFS, providing wildland fire services in our national forest lands and in the State Responsibility Areas (SRA). We do not have CalFire stations in Plumas County. While CalFire does staff a fire prevention office here, the responsibility for SRA lands was traded to the USFS many years ago, in exchange for other areas of the state where CalFIre covers some Federal Responsibility Areas (FRA's).
The good news is that everyone works together in what today is a seamless system.
2. Are communities required by law to have a fire department?
Answer - the simple answer is no for a basic small community, assuming it is unincorporated. If a community incorporates as a Town or City, many regulations and requirements may come with that, including securing some fire protection. Even without incorporation, any community may decide to have fire protection, and then many laws, regulations and standards that may apply to the provision of that service.
3. Why do you have to send a fire engine or two to medical aid calls along with an ambulance?
Answer - We do this for several reasons. First, local fire department personnel are often much closer to the incident than the few ambulances we have in Plumas County. Time is usually critical in medical emergencies, so the first responder firefighters are part of the system to assure speedy care. The first line of defense is the bystander, family member, or friend, who starts the process by calling 911 for help, and possibly providing CPR or first aid if trained. Next come the firefighters, who may be Emergency Medical Technicians or Responders, and finally the Ambulances with a Paramedic and EMT. Emergency helicopters may also be brought in if needed, for remote transfer or for critical issues that local hospitals are not equipped to deal with, such as severe trauma, strokes, or heart attacks.
The second reason is that fire departments are equipped and trained for rescue, including extricating people from car wrecks, performing rope rescues such as when a car goes over the side of a hill, or in a variety of other situations. Plumas County Search and Rescue may also be called if needed. Ambulance personnel typically do not have the equipment, training, or personal protective equipment to do that function, unless they are part of a fire department. The response is a team effort, and everyone has a role.
Answer - The evolution of fire protection in Plumas County has followed typical patterns found across America throughout our history. When communities were new or really small, there typically was no fire protection. Then, something happened, like a big fire. Suddenly there was great interest in doing something. Many small communities followed through on starting something, and some did not, for various reasons including cost. Eventually growth and an increased number of fires led to small fire companies being established, almost always volunteer at the start.
The earliest fire departments began in the days before motorized vehicles, such as Quincy, in the 1870's. At that time tools like hose carts were used. Firemen (as they were called back then) had to pull a very heavy metal cart with heavy hose to the fire, and were therefore quite limited as to what they could do and how far they could go. Hose carts weighed over 1,000 pounds, sometimes as much as a ton or more. Add in the fact that streets were not paved, and you can imagine the challenges during times of rain and mud or snow. So, simply the distance to travel was a limiting factor.
If the community continued to grow, eventually the number of emergencies exceeded the ability of a volunteer system to provide adequate service. Usually this happens when the number of calls exceeded one per day, although circumstances varied. Paid firemen, as they were called back then, were hired to supplement volunteers, resulting in what was and still is called a "combination" FD. If the growth continued, the department often became fully paid at some point, such as in most communities with more than 10,000 population in California. Plumas County has several combination departments, with only one fully career department in Peninsula. Our largest community is Quincy, with a population of about 5,500 people. It is mostly volunteer, with a paid Fire Chief and Mechanic/Maintenance Manager who is also a volunteer.
We also have the United States Forest Service, or USFS, providing wildland fire services in our national forest lands and in the State Responsibility Areas (SRA). We do not have CalFire stations in Plumas County. While CalFire does staff a fire prevention office here, the responsibility for SRA lands was traded to the USFS many years ago, in exchange for other areas of the state where CalFIre covers some Federal Responsibility Areas (FRA's).
The good news is that everyone works together in what today is a seamless system.
2. Are communities required by law to have a fire department?
Answer - the simple answer is no for a basic small community, assuming it is unincorporated. If a community incorporates as a Town or City, many regulations and requirements may come with that, including securing some fire protection. Even without incorporation, any community may decide to have fire protection, and then many laws, regulations and standards that may apply to the provision of that service.
3. Why do you have to send a fire engine or two to medical aid calls along with an ambulance?
Answer - We do this for several reasons. First, local fire department personnel are often much closer to the incident than the few ambulances we have in Plumas County. Time is usually critical in medical emergencies, so the first responder firefighters are part of the system to assure speedy care. The first line of defense is the bystander, family member, or friend, who starts the process by calling 911 for help, and possibly providing CPR or first aid if trained. Next come the firefighters, who may be Emergency Medical Technicians or Responders, and finally the Ambulances with a Paramedic and EMT. Emergency helicopters may also be brought in if needed, for remote transfer or for critical issues that local hospitals are not equipped to deal with, such as severe trauma, strokes, or heart attacks.
The second reason is that fire departments are equipped and trained for rescue, including extricating people from car wrecks, performing rope rescues such as when a car goes over the side of a hill, or in a variety of other situations. Plumas County Search and Rescue may also be called if needed. Ambulance personnel typically do not have the equipment, training, or personal protective equipment to do that function, unless they are part of a fire department. The response is a team effort, and everyone has a role.
