Ledger-Dispatch

By Staff Report (editor@ledger-dispatch.com= )=20

Ione volunteer firefighters wear the = new wildland=20 gear provided through a community fundraiser.

Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger=20 Dispatch
New wildland fire protective = gear for the=20 Ione Fire Department arrived at city hall earlier this = month.

Fifty sets=20 were purchased with funds raised last October at a community fundraising = event=20 held at Rancho Arroyo Seco.

"The department is so grateful. These = new=20 sets of gear will replace very worn sets that are over 12 years old," = said Fire=20 Chief Ken Mackey. "This community generously donated over $8,500 that = was=20 matched by Rancho Arroyo Seco for a total of over $17,000. We are so=20 appreciative of the support we have received from individuals and the = owners of=20 Rancho Arroyo Seco. As a volunteer organization, we do not have a large = budget=20 and this type of support goes right back into the community."

All = 45=20 volunteer fighters were measured for the customized outfits. The funds = raised=20 were enough to purchase 50 sets, with five put into reserve. Each set = includes=20 jacket and pants of special fabric that is designed to provide an extra = layer of=20 protection from heat to the skin. In addition, helmet and boots specific = for=20 wildland firefighting are worn.

The manufacturer of the wildland = gear=20 sent a representative to Ione to measure each firefighter. The group was = also=20 able to specify design elements such as pocket size and placement for = handheld=20 equipment and tools. Zippers, Velcro and snaps at the ankle of the pant = provide=20 extra protection from vectors such as bees, wasp, ticks and snakes = encountered=20 during wildland firefighting.

Captains Troy Gold and Ron Speer = explained=20 the importance of having good equipment that includes = clothing.

The=20 department has already been on many calls this wildland fire season. = Enforcement=20 of weed abatement within the city limits has helped to reduced city = fires.=20 However, the department is concerned with fires outside the city limits = and=20 responds to those in order to protect the fire from entering the city=20 limits.

Bill Bunce, one of the Rancho Arroyo Seco owners, summed = it up=20 this way: "It is so humbling and such a pleasure to be part of a = community that=20 cares and is willing to donate to such an important city service such as = the=20 fire department. We are looking forward to continuing to supporting the = fire=20 department and the community fundraising again this year."

In = November=20 2006, Amador Ranch Associates purchased 16,100 acres of land from the = Howard=20 family near the city of Ione. The 16,100-acre property was originally = part of=20 Rancho Arroyo Seco, a 48,857-acre Mexican land grant that spanned = eastern=20 Sacramento County and western Amador County. Bunce and other partners = with=20 Amador Ranch Associates are currently guiding a 1,300-home golf course = community=20 through the planning phases in Sutter Creek. They haven't yet said what=20 development they're planning for Ranch Arroyo.

A new Ione fire = station is=20 scheduled for groundbreaking in August and will be completed in February = or=20 March 2009. This additional facility will enable quick emergency = response to=20 both sides of the city that is divided by the Sutter Creek = Bridge.

The=20 second annual Firefighters Fundraiser will be held in October at the Big = Red=20 Barn at Rancho Arroyo Seco in Ione. A community leadership group has = been=20 formed. Funds raised in October will go to purchase new gear for the = department=20 to be used for fighting structural fires. For information on this year's = event,=20 contact Sharon Long at 274-6597.

Staff = Report