The Skywalker Ranch Fire Brigade was officially organized July 15, 1985 to protect Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. Skywalker Ranch is a film and television facility owned by filmmaker George Lucasâ?? company Lucasfilm Ltd. Development began in 1980 in a rural area called Nicasio. While the Marin County Fire Department is the legal fire authority for the area, the remote location and lengthy response times from the nearest county station required supplementing service with a private fire brigade.
Prior to 1985, fire equipment at the location consisted of three used fire pickups with skid mount pumps and tanks, operating out of a barn. Ranch construction employees served as volunteer firefighters working with the County FD and the local Nicasio Volunteer FD. As the facility grew, a higher level of service was required. In 1985, the brigade was officially organized under Fed-OSHA Regulations for Private Fire Brigades. Full-time staff were hired, who also provide security and safety services.
Today the brigade consists of twelve full-time staff along with some volunteer fire fighters. Minimum staffing is a two-person engine company. All personnel are California state certified firefighters and EMT-Dâ??s. Captains are fire officer certified. Engine Co. 1589 is a 1985 Pierce Dash/1500 gpm/750 gallon tank CA Type 1. A four-wheel drive, 400 gpm/500 gallon tank CA Type III wildland engine was added in 1989, built by Pierce on an International chassis. In 1991, a new fire station was completed that includes the nerve center of computer-based alarm and CCTV monitoring systems.
In addition to protecting Skywalker Ranch and neighboring company property totaling over 6,000 acres, the brigade is an active member of the Marin County Fire Mutual Aid program. They are proud of a close working relationship with the County FD and the Nicasio VFD, and often train together. Mutual aid responses in the local area have included the Oakland firestorm in 1991 and the Vision Fire in Inverness in 1995. Skywalkerâ??s engine and personnel were credited with â??one of the most amazing saves of a homeâ?? at the Vision Fire by the incident commander, working with other members of the local strike team.
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
