Mendocino volunteer firefighters awarded twenty-year pins
Two Mendocino Volunteer Firefighters were honored at the Fire Department’s holiday awards dinner on December 3rd. District Board member Forrest Francis awarded Erin Keller and Shawn Dawson 20-year service pins, and both joined the Department in 2002. They join five other Department members who have served over 20 years: Dirk Dooley (21), Rich Jung (32), Chief Dave Latoof (24), David Lindstrom (21), and JP McMillan (21), who all serve as mentors to newer firefighters. Mendocino Fire has been fortunate to have recruited a significant number of new firefighters and EMTs over the last five years, which has increased the Department to 31 members.
Chief Latoof also honored the members of this year’s Strike Team, Jeff Forbes, Russell Hartridge, and Seneca Sluis, who responded to seven fires as mutual aid outside the District this fire season. Mendocino Fire Strike Teams have earned a sterling reputation in the State.
The Department is looking forward to an eventful new year. A new auxiliary building for the storage of fire and rescue vehicles will be built on Comptche Ukiah Road, the firehouse on Little Lake Road will undergo some much-needed renovations, and several pieces of new equipment acquired through grants will be integrated into the Department including a new surf rescue boat and a mobile air unit. The Department remains grateful to all of the local residents who support its efforts through their donations and to the Mendocino Community Foundation, which has been very generous with multiple grants this year.