VOLUNTEERS ON ALERT!
Reserve Firefighters Show Their Mettle

Left to right: Grant Stephens, Loren Manoram and Patrick Contrado.

By Jim Evans

Most people in Ramona still don’t know it’s there. The nondescript prefab metal building sits atop a hill on the left on the way to Julian, and the only thing that catches your eye is the large American flag — now flying at half-staff in memory of those who lost their lives to Hurricane Katrina. Only when you look closer can you see the sign above the doors identifying the building as a volunteer fire station.

The Intermountain Fire & Rescue Department, Station 95, is funded entirely by grants and donations and staffed by volunteers under the direction of Fire Chief and Ramona resident Cary Coleman.

Reserve firefighters at Station 95. Photos by Jim Evans

The department’s purpose, according to its bylaws, is “to provide protection and preservation of human life and property by loss by fire, fire prevention and education, aiding persons in need or suffering due to accident or other circumstances perilous to human life and limb.”

It probably puzzles people who often see a fire apparatus race past but do not see any fire, but medical calls usually outnumber fire calls for such departments. Still, the volunteers from Station 95 see their share of fires and contributed to fighting the historic Cedar Fire two years ago.

Surprisingly, few of the department’s volunteers are local. Shift Officer Patrick Contrado is from Oceanside, where he works in construction for a homebuilder. Brent Stephens and Loren Manoram are students at Saddleback Community College and commute from Orange County.

Why are they willing to drive back and forth so far to volunteer their services?

“This is what we want to do,” all three said almost at once.

“I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter since I was a little girl,” Manoram said. “I was excited the first time I saw a fire engine driving down the street with its sirens blaring.”

All hope to eventually become full-time firefighters. In the meantime, “this is great practical experience and a way to help the community,” said Stephens, as Contrado and Manoram agreed.

Stephens and Manoram also participate in the Orange County Fire Exploring Program, an official fire department function offering young adults real-life experiences, training and exposure to career opportunities in the fire service. Orange County Fire Authority provides fire suppression, emergency rescue and fire-prevention services. The authority helps with emergency-management coordination for disasters such as earthquakes, hazardous-materials coordination and weed-abatement services.

Fire Exploring gives young people insight into the firefighting profession, so they can decide whether to pursue a greater role in the fire service. Participants gain personal confidence, learn to use various tools, develop mechanical skills and aptitude, and gain a greater awareness of personal and fire safety.

Established in 1988, the Intermountain Fire & Rescue Department covers an area of approximately 125 square miles between Ramona, Julian and Lake Henshaw. Department volunteers typically respond to more than 300 calls every year — mostly traffic accidents and medical calls, with some rescue and vegetation calls.

Volunteers, or reserve firefighters, as they are more commonly known, train an average of 20 hours a month and typically work one 24-hour shift per week at the station but, based on availability and need, they might work more. Manoram recalled working as many as four shifts in one week — although she admitted that isn’t the norm — when special events and emergencies demanded more time. Reserve firefighters at Station 95 were recently on alert for the fire on Volcan Mountain.

Station 95 is still evolving, according to Stephens.

“The living quarters and restrooms have recently been completed, and a big screen TV was recently donated for the lounge area,” he said. “The kitchen is complete now (firefighters have to eat, you know), and everything is really shaping up. We are still anticipating the addition of an off-road brush engine to add to our arsenal of equipment.”

The Intermountain Fire & Rescue Department is a California nonprofit 501c(3) governed by a volunteer board, whose monthly meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Station 95, 25858 Highway 78.

Volunteers from the department are available to speak to schools, churches, organizations, and participate at special events. For information about scheduling a reserve firefighter to appear at your event or to become a reserve firefighter,

call (760) 239-1280 or

(760) 789-3710, or visit the Intermountain Web site at www.intermountainfire.com. Donations are always welcomed and appreciated.