Despite the craziness going on in our world today, 2021 was a strong year for Fort Jones Fire Department. In addition to countless hours spent training and prepping for emergencies, volunteers and seasonal paid firefighters spent over 700 hours on local 911 incidents (not including time spent returning to quarters). 19 FJFD volunteers responded to 454 calls for service across Scott Valley. Those 454 incidents included: 18 structure fires, 5 vehicle fires, 34 wildland/outdoor fires, 349 medical aids/public assists, 16 false alarms, 27 traffic collisions, and 5 "other" calls.

While maintaining coverage for valley emergencies, FJFD members also spent a total 17 hrs on the Lava fire near Weed, 381 hrs on the Dixie fire near Chico, and 949 hrs at the Scott Valley Helibase on crash rescue standby supporting helicopter operations during the devastating River Complex.

2021 also held a handful of personnel changes for the Fort Jones Fire Department. In September, Chief John Shepherd stepped down. On September 13, 2021, Chief Joseph Hess was officially appointed by Fort Jones City Council. Lieutenants Brad Leiferman and Breanna Buker were both promoted to Captain, and Samantha Hess was appointed EMS Lieutenant.

In September, Fort Jones City Council approved the purchase of a new type 1 engine. Chief Hess and retired mechanic Craig Shvonski travelled to Texas in October to check out a potential option. The 2001 Spartan/Darley was purchased and FJFD took delivery of it on October 12, 2021. The new engine was sent to Medford for maintenance and, due largely to supply chain issues, has been in Medford for over 2 months. It is estimated to be ready for pickup this week.

Fort Jones Fire Department is gearing up for another year dedicated to serving our community. We are excited for a number of our members who have moved on to the next step in their careers over the past year. Unfortunately, that means we currently are relying on a few highly committed members who are beginning to feel the weight of 24/7 emergency response. If you are interested in joining forces (or know anybody who might be), please fill out an application (linked below) or call the station (leave a message if nobody answers).

Wishing you all the best in 2022!