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 chapters: 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 most touching moments was the unveiling of the restored 1960s Willys 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.
