Sierra Voices #6 The History of Volunteer Fire Fighting & Creek Fire Recovery

The History of Volunteer Fire Fighting & Creek Fire Recovery

Presentation Summary: Speaker James Parr will discuss firefighting efforts during the Creek Fire, focusing on the many volunteer fire departments in the Shaver Lake and foothill areas.  Including the devastation felt by the homeowners who lost everything, what is being done to prevent future disasters, and where we are with rebuilding the communities.

Speaker – James Parr: James and his wife Janet bought property in the Shaver Lake area in 2000, permanently moving to the area in 2009.  This was a life goal, to leave the city and live in a log cabin in the mountains.

He became involved in the local Pine Ridge Volunteer Fire Department in 2009. He put all his free time into training with the department, eventually becoming the Training Officer.  The Pine Ridge VFD was a full-sized self-funded department that doesn’t get a lot of calls, but served the purpose of quick medical and fire response for an out-of-the-way area.

Due to staffing shortages and volunteer retention at the Shaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the Shaver Chief approached Pine Ridge VFD for members willing to be members of both departments.  James and his wife Janet volunteered for Shaver Lake VFD in 2013.

Eventually James became Chief of the Pine Ridge VFD, and Assistant Chief of Shaver Lake VFD.

During the Creek Fire in 2020, James spent most of his firefighting efforts in the Pine Ridge area, protecting what remained of the Pine Ridge area.  The area was hit 4 days into the fire, and was overrun by 100ft flames in just a few hours; destroying 66 of the 88 houses in the community, including his own.

Shortly after the Creek Fire, the Chief of Shaver Lake VFD retired, and James assumed the role.  He is now the Chief of both departments.

Since the Creek Fire, James has worked in his community to help rebuild, although it is hard since – 2 years later on – he and Janet still live in a rental in Fresno.  They hope to permanently return when their new house is complete in April 2023.

James’ day job is as a Computer Programmer for Bank of America that gives him the luxury of working from home.  James also volunteers for the Fresno Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Mountaineering team, and is the President of the Central Sierra Volunteer Fire Training Officers organization. 

Event Schedule: 

• 12:30 pm – Checkin/Registration
• 1:00 – 2:00 pm – Presentation

Admission is $5.00 per Adult, Current CSHS Members are FREE

Coffee and Snacks are provided.

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