San Bernardino County Fire Station 10 offered an Open House to the Tri-Community of Phelan, Wrightwood, and Pinon Hills on Saturday, November 5th, 2022. With reverence to the families and loved ones of County Fire Department Captain Karl Hegle, who has recently passed, the American Flag was at half-staff. The County Firefighters and personnel stayed on post to welcome the Tri-Community into their home, Fire Station 10, at 9265 Beekley Road, in Phelan. Serving with full respect for their lost colleague, they proudly presented life-saving skills and practices. Also hosting a “Fill the Boot” fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy, Fire Station 10 was all polish and shine.
Captain Roy Gault gave the tour of Fire Station 10 through the well-equipped garage area past Medical Fire Engines ME-10 and ME-14, the SCBA (Self-contained Breathing Apparatus) filling equipment, through the living quarters, to the kitchen. “We play cards to choose who makes dinner, and we play cards to choose who does the dishes.” Captain Roy stated. The large but humble kitchen looked well-stocked and organized. To many who might not know, the food bill is shared by all in residence. Being “A” Shift Captain, Roy and company share the station with shifts “B” and “C” here in Phelan. The three-shift system ensures an around-the-clock crew with the three battalions in rotation.
Donations to the “Fill the Boot!” fundraiser support the San Bernardino Professional Fire Fighters Local 935 Benevolent Fund, which provides help for sick Firefighters and their families. Along with fundraising for a worthy cause, Fire Station 10 was here to share fire safety awareness and promote community fellowship, utilizing educational instruction, hands-on experience, and food. The students from Serrano High School’s C.T.E. (Career Technical Education) Fire program served hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch from the San Bernardino Firefighters’ custom bar-b-que trailer. Not just flipping burgers, these ambitious teens play a vital role in Station 10’s maintenance program. Their morning schedule included washing up the Type 3 Brush Engine for the Open House.
All dogs aside, Remy, the K-9 Rescue dog, showed his people skills, while Sparky, the (human) Safety Dog, shared escape strategies with the kids in the Edith (Exit Drills In The Home) Trailer. County Fire Officer Melina Renaldi guided some wide-eyed children through the Edith trailer while demonstrating common household safety hazards and how to deal with them. E.M.S. Educator Nurse Sara Morning, who started as a volunteer firefighter when she was eighteen, was on hand to demonstrate Emergency C.P.R. to the visitors. At the age of twenty, she went to a full-time Firefighter with the City of Twentynine Palms. “Now I teach C.P.R. for San Bernardino County Fire and Rescue to the E.M.T.’s,” Sara added. The cooperation between the numerous agencies, Suppression, Prevention, and Emergency Medical Services, was obvious at this neighborhood bonding event.
In regard to the Open House at Station 10, Steve Tracey, Battalion Chief for Battalion 8, had this to say. “This is something that Division 5 has been wanting to do for a long, long time. Station 10 is first this quarter; then, we are going to start doing this throughout the Battalion.” Serving a community of three million people, Battalion Chief Tracey said, “There are a lot of moving parts involved, but we are here for the community.” Chief Tracey added, “We are here to serve them.” Special thanks to the San Bernardino County Fire Department and its resolute staff and volunteers at County Fire Station 10, that made this event such a special occasion for all to remember. God protect our Firefighters.
