The firehouse will stay open

The Bethel Island fire station, built in the 1940s, will stay open for now. The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board voted last night to keep the island fire station going. The photo above was taken a long time ago with the proud early volunteers. You can see a picture of the station as it looks today by scrolling down to my post on June 24. A cement block front addition was added to the Quonset hut some time ago.

I handed out over 50 red plastic firefighter helmets to Bethel Islanders attending the meeting. The women put them right on, but the men were a little shy about wearing them. However, the bright red showed up in the hall so the board could see that there were a lot of people from the island in the audience. There was standing room only.

I was so proud of the people from the island. At least 25 of them gave thoughtful comments to the board.

One man was late to the meeting and he told the board why. He said just as he was getting ready to leave the island, a boat pulled in to the dock at his harbor. A passenger on the boat was in distress and needed medical help. The local firefighters and an EMT came right to the dock. An ambulance was called from Oakley. In the meantime the patient was given first aid. The ambulance arrived and it took five men to maneuver the heavy person into the vehicle.

I’ve always been so glad we have a fire station on the island. I designed a pattern a few years ago called Kate & Friends. The cover shows my version of my friend Kate all dressed up to attend the Firemen’s Ball. She was a beautiful person. She was the secretary at the fire station and the whole town loved her. She started her job at the station by washing trucks and equipment, but gradually she began getting the files in order and getting the paperwork done. Kate died a few years ago.