The Mountain Gate Volunteer Fire Department will resume operations immediately after hearing that its department will be receiving new safety gear, the agency said in a Facebook post Wednesday, March 12.
“Subsequent to the Mountain Gate Community Service District Board Meeting this evening and the approval of the purchase of four sets of structure safety gear, the chief and command staff of Mountain Gate Fire Department have announced that the department will resume full operations starting immediately.
“Unfortunately due to safety gear restrictions, our staffing has been limited to seven firefighters for the time being. This is because of limited OSHA approved gear and sizing complications.
“We will continue to work with our Board in order to bring our staffing up to normal.
“We would like to thank our incredible community for their support and assistance in making our voices heard on this important issue. Thank you for caring for the health and safety of our firefighters, and we look forward to continuing to serve you.”
The Mountain Gate Volunteer Fire Department in Shasta County (CA) announced that it is suspending operations indefinitely. The department made the following post on Facebook Monday, March 10:
Suspending Operations Until Further Notice
With heavy hearts, we are posting a notice to our community to advise you that due to inadequate and unsafe gear we will not be responding to any emergency calls for service until further notice, the department said on its Facebook page.
This brings us no joy and we appreciate the incredible support from our community, but without proper gear, the health and safety of our volunteer fighters are at risk. We cannot, in good faith, allow our firefighters to continue to respond to potentially life-threatening calls.
We have continually brought this issue to the Mountain Gate Community Service District, including but not limited to, proving to them that our department’s gear is completely out of OSHA regulations, but it has gone unheard and overlooked again and again. So until this problem is resolved and we can again ensure the safety of our volunteers that dedicate their free time and energy to helping others, we will not be able to respond to your needs.
We sincerely hope that this will not be long term and we can again soon continue to respond and serve our community once the purchase of adequate and compliant gear is completed.
Chief Stevens and the rest of the Command Staff take the safety of our firefighters very seriously and wish that others will do the same.
