History

Founded in August, 1934 under the California Fire District Act of 1931 at the request of the Salinas Chapter of the California Grange. Boundaries of the District were determined by the same lines as the Salinas Union High School District. First on-duty crew was housed at Salinas City Station 1 until 1949.

First Salinas Rural Fire Engine

• Purchased Aug. 30, 1934
• Cost $14,900.73
• American La France
• V-12 Engine-240 H.P.
• 750 GPM Pump

Salinas City & SRFD Crews 1941

SRFD History 1943

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) provided the hose, pump, ladders to build trailers on old 1937 Ford chassis that the District got from local junk yards. These trailers were built for firefighting during possible war time actions. Labor was done by firefighters on duty.

SRFD & SFD Joint Photo 1945

• Left Bottom:
  Ed Nelson, Elmer Anderson, Chief George Vonsosten, Al Vieborg, Andy Nielsen
• Top Left:
  Xavier Maynette, John Wing, Bill Nichols, Lee Condin, Lewis Snyder, Al Stewart, Cliff Jay, SvendinKrawl

Alisal Station

1950: Alisal Station (a/k/a Station #1) opened by Chief Larry Moore

Salinas Rural Fire Personnel when Station 1 opened in 1950

• Left to Right:
  Chief Larry Moore, Andy Thoreson, A/C Andy Nielsen, Jim Morrison, Art Miles, Vance Randolph, Byron Dennis, Harold McConnel, John Wing (SRFD Mechanic), Layton Forney

SRFD Personnel 1967

• Front Row (sitting):
  Richard Castro, Jim Morrison, Al Graulich, Corky Tholcke, Bill Barker, Vance Randolph
• Second Row (sitting):
  Bob Revels, Bob Silvey, A/C Andy Nielsen, Chief Larry Moore, A/C Al Stewart, Steve Goetz, Elmer Walsh
• Third Row (standing):
  Gil Valine, George Pacheco, Gerald Quinn, Don Eberle, Herman Ferdinanado, Roy Manteufel, Irvin Bushnell, Terry Bever, Robert Michaels
• Fourth Row (standing):
  Steve Driver, Jim Mallatt, Charles Dougherty, Walt Days, Alan Wilson, Jon Hooks, Ray Stegall

1970 District Photo

Chief Officers Training With New EJ Resuscitator

This Resuscitator was donated to SRFD by the Hambey Family in January 1954

Prunedale Station

1952: Prunedale Station (a/k/a Station #2) was opened.
1981: Transferred to North County FPD after Prop. 13 reorganization.

Salinas Rural Fire District Board of Directors (circa 1960)

• Left to Right:
  Roy Jacobsen, Ivan Dustin, Arnold “Pat” Silacci, Elmer Lanini, Bert Cahoon

California State Rural Fire Pumping Champions 1964

• Left to Right:
  Chief Moore, Capt. Corky Tholcke, FF Bob Silvey, FF Steve Driver, FF Bob Michaels, Capt. Vance Randolph
• Not Pictured:
  Gil Valine, Alternate

Toro Station

Toro Station (a/k/a Station #3) built in 1966 for a cost of $76,664. Renumbered Station #1 when Alisal Station was sold to City of Salinas.

• Equipment:
  WT 119, Engine 111, Engine 121
• Staffing:
  1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Hoseman

Salinas Rural Establishes Volunteer Firefighter Program February 1982

Jake Goetz & Sue Vindhurst Feb. 1982 after receiving turnouts
Board of Directors welcome new Volunteers with a cake, March 25, 1982

• First Volunteers:
  John Braasch, Sue Vindhurst, Matt Anderson, Bill Boggess, Gary Robinson, Dick Johnson, Andy Estrada, Dave Ferrasci, Jake Goetz, Sandy Hunter, Mike Hunter, Donna Silvey, Will Clever, Lionel Levins,
  Lt. Jerry Anderson (Volunteer Coordinator)

Chualar Station

Chualar Station was built in 1983 with some funding from the Housing Urban Development (HUD) program.

Hidden Hills Station

Built in 1984, it was staffed during the fire season on hot days with Volunteers and off-duty staff. There were no living quarters, just a restroom and 2 apparatus bays. Sold in 1990 and remodeled into a private residence after Laureles Station was built.

Laureles Station

Built in 1990 by HartnellCollege students and off-duty personnel. Opened by Chief Ron Zeiseand, Assistant Chief Steve Goetz

Fire Chief Steve Negro Retirement Picture November 2005

SRFD Begins Providing Paramedic Service January 1, 2007

• Left to Right:
  Scott Babione (FF EMT-P), Dave Craddock (Lt. EMT-P), ShuanKamnikar (FF EMT-P)

Salinas Rural’sAdministration Building November 17, 2007

Grand Opening Celebration

• Left to Right:
  Capt. Chris Handle’, Lt. Larry Freitas, FF Randy J. Gillenwater, FF Dave Craddock, Div. Chief David Sargenti, FF-P Scott Babione, Admin. Officer Natalie Gonzalez, Secretary Barbara Barlow, Fire Chief Michael Urquides, Ret. Fire Chief Steve Negro, Dep. Fire Marshal Dorothy Priolo, Financial Analyst Lia Pilotte, Div. Chief Paul Pilotte

The History of Salinas Rural Fire