Chief Says Volunteers Badly Needed To Staff Shasta County Fire Stations

Shasta County is desperate for volunteer firefighters. That was one of the primary points made by County Fire Chief Sean O’Hara in a report he gave to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Not only are the county’s volunteers at an all-time low of 107, the Chief says 48 of them are on probation for not meeting minimum training standards required by the state. Of the active volunteers, many are reaching an age that’s well beyond their expected retirement, such as 83-year-old John Parrish, the lone occupant of the Old Station Volunteer Fire Department. Volunteers receive a stipend of $20 per call. Information on volunteering is available at 545-2418. The Chief also said defensible space requirements for homes in Shasta and Trinity Counties will be enforced this year, and citations will be issued. Tips on preparedness can be found at readyforwildfire.org. There are 5 inspectors working the county, and they can be reached at 245-2418.