Briceland Fire Protection District Notice of Public Hearing

On Saturday, June 21, the Briceland community gathered at the Octagon to honor and bid a formal farewell to former Fire Chief Gerald Myers—one of the founding members of what began as the Beginnings Volunteer Fire Company and later became Briceland Volunteer Fire Department.

It was a heartfelt and beautiful celebration of a remarkable life. Gerald was a man of many “incantations” – logger, Army Ranger and paratrooper, 1970s back-to-the-lander practicing Buddhist meditation, and a builder of both community and spirit. He played a key role in establishing the alternative children’s school at Beginnings and later helped launch the Redwood Creek Renewal Project—an early effort in fire safety and vegetation management that ultimately gave rise to our fire department.

The afternoon was rich with stories, shared memories, and delicious food. Current and former members of the Fire Department came together to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate Gerald’s enduring legacy. One of the day’s highlights was the unveiling of the restored 1960s Kaiser fire truck—affectionately named Mildred after Gerald’s mother, who helped fund the department’s first apparatus. Mildred, the original Beginnings fire truck, will soon be back in service as Briceland Engine 5448.

You may have heard about Defensible Space; the area directly around our home that should be managed to minimize the spread of fire from the wildland to structures. However, wind driven fires can bring blowing embers and falling fire brands that can bypass this protection and directly effect buildings. Home Hardening is key to defending from the intrusion of fire in these dangerous situations.

The Humboldt Co Fire Safe Council has an excellent website for more information and resources to help protect yourself, your family and home from the threats of wildfire;

HCFSC Fire Safety Resources

Home Hardening Retrofit Guide- Tahoe

While the storm winds gusted and the rivers crested, our crew was active and ready to respond to emergency calls for medical distress, trees down, high water hazards, fallen electrical lines, landslides, road slipouts, or, of course, fires!. Briceland Fire was able to provide 24hr staffing of two engines for the 3 day duration of the storm, joining crews from Redway Fire, Shelter Cove Fire Department and Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department in a Cal-OES prepositioning assignment of six engines in Southern Humboldt County.

Having our Type-6 Engine 5446 “saw module” equipped with a wide assortment of chainsaws and hand tools available for this kind of event is especially useful for dealing with trees down and debris on the roads. Our Type-1 Engine 5416 was also specially equipped and ready to respond to vehicle accidents or water rescue calls, which thankfully did not occur.

Thank you to all who help us do what we do, and for staying safe while this storm passed over us!