Bonny Doon resident and volunteer fireman Dennis Mason, who plumbed five used water tanks donated to Bonny Doon Fire and Rescue Department by the city of Santa Cruz, fills two 6,000-gallon tanks placed next to the so-called “Kerosene Highway” at the end of Pine Ridge Road. Lucjan Szewczyk/Press-Banner
Water tanks that will each hold more than 10,000 gallons wait to be transported. Lucjan Szewczyk/Press-Banner
The city of Santa Cruz donated five used water storage tanks ranging from 6,000 gallons to 13,000 gallons in capacity to the district this spring.
“They were tanks in the wastewater process,” fire board president Rob Caldera said. “(Santa Cruz) needed to get rid of the tanks, so they offered them to us. It’s the ultimate green recycling program.”
The district board has been working with Bonny Doon residents to find places on private property for the tanks, which will be kept filled in the event an engine or water tender needs a refill during an emergency, such as last summer’s Martin Fire that devastated 520 acres.
Pine Ridge was the first area chosen because of the population density and the typically dry conditions there, Caldera said.
Pine Ridge Road has been dubbed “Kerosene Highway” by residents because of the dry conditions along the road.
Caldera said the board hopes to find locations for the other tanks in upper Bonny Doon near Crest Ranch and in lower Bonny Doon near Beauregard Vineyards.
The tanks have been retrofitted for nozzle connections and have been anchored to the ground. Caldera said it would likely cost “upwards of three or four thousand dollars” to purchase and install tanks like this without the donations.
“It’s all sweat equity,” Caldera said. “We have one hell of a volunteer team.”
Caldera said there has been unequivocal support for the tanks from the community, and he hopes that each year another tank can be added somewhere in Bonny Doon.
“I’m hoping we turn this into a program of some kind, longer term,” he said.
I am a 34 year member of the Bonny Doon Community.
John Galt is right: "It is the volunteers that best serve the community as the LOCAL fire department."
A local Fire District at the present cost, or at even twice the cost, would still be a very cost effective way to give our community fire protection and medical response.
Medical response is not Cal Fire's charge. Also, their crew and rig often has to leave the mountain to fight fires in other areas, i.e. Henry Coe. A local district with paid and volunteer members would be a more stable and affordable solution.
As it is now, Cal Fire spends half our tax money elsewhere. How is that good for Bonny Doon. You can double the effectiveness of your present $141 per year fire tax just by having ALL OF IT spent here in Bonny Doon.
Don't get me wrong - Cal Fire has a great bunch of people, and they are excellent at their primary job - their state mandated duty -wildland fire protection.
It is the volunteers that best serve the community as the LOCAL fire department.
I hope the community wins its lawsuit and forms a district. We need the best fire service we can provide for ourselves.
Thank you all for your efforts, today and everyday.
One thing we can do to honor the volunteer service by these wonderful community members is to SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF A FIRE DISTRICT in Bonny Doon. Then, our local Fire Tax dollars will be spent here to protect the lives and property of the people who live here. Right now, even with the Cal Fire presence on the mountain, a great deal of Bonny Doon Fire Tax money is siphoned off by the county to pay for Cal Fire in other communities.
By the way, most homeowners pay only $141 dollars per year for fire protection. That is less than 40 cents per day. When we form a district, those tax funds can be used exclusively here. After District formation, even if Bonny Doon decided to double its fire tax by an election, the amount would still be less than 80 cents per day for each home. Fire protection by a community governed FIRE DISTRICT is one of the most affordable and efficient of government services.