Intermountain Volunteer Fire Department In Ramona

By Ron Peterka

Well, Intermountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department is not exactly in Ramona, but it’s pretty close — and big improvements are on the horizon.

Here are some fast facts:

• The department, also known as Intermountain Fire, is the primary emergency response unit for about 125 square miles east of Ramona along Highway 78, Old Julian Highway, extending just past Santa Ysabel and north along Highway 79 to Lake Henshaw.

• Approximately 1,200 families live in its response area.

• Intermountain Fire makes about 200 runs a year.

Very soon, Intermountain will move into its first dedicated fire station, on Highway 78 about seven miles east of Ramona, just past the Pine Hills egg ranch. Built largely with federal and Indian grant money, this station has been “in the works” since 1994. We also owe additional thanks to County Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

To say the firefighters are excited and delighted is an understatement. They have been working out of a tired, fifth-wheel trailer with very cramped quarters and difficult access.

The new station will offer living quarters for up to eight firefighters with privacy for both men and men. A kitchen will offer relief from too much fast food, and a combination recreation room and classroom will allow comfortable off-duty accommodations. Heating and air conditioning will maintain a comfortable climate.

The station will feature one large equipment bay for the engine, with plans to add a second bay in the near future.

Intermountain was founded in 1987 by a group of Santa Ysabel citizens. They had a small board of directors, a fire chief, one firefighter, and one well-worn fire engine that did not run all the time.

In the years since, the department has grown in fits and jumps. Today, it has an active board of directors, almost 30 volunteer firefighters, an experienced chief — Cary “Dusty” Coleman — and five firefighting vehicles. There are two structure engines, one brush engine, one rescue engine, and one Jeep rescue/chief’s vehicle. Three vehicles are owned by Intermountain and two are on loan from federal agencies.

Department engines and other department equipment have been obtained through an aggressive search of public and private grants, yielding more than $2.5 million in the past several years.

The financial problem for Intermountain is that although we can obtain grants for specific pieces of equipment, we do not receive tax funding. This means we are required to find money for fuel, worker’s compensation insurance, and other day-to-day costs.

Did you know the department is billed almost $50 for each 911 call we respond to?

Intermountain does bill for some services, and we have an active annual subscription support program. Several fundraiser activities also help. However, it has never been enough for proper funding.

The 2005-06 budget is at a bare-bones level of $55,000 and should be closer to $120,000 to allow for replacing worn-out engines, etc. eventually.

For more information, visit www.intermountainfire.com.

Ron Peterka is a member of the board of directors of the Intermountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.