Growth
The emergency services delivered to those living and visiting in the area have since evolved from volunteer seasonal winter fire protection to include a fully staffed paid and volunteer engine companies that respond to emergency medical incidents, provide for fire protection, public safety education, emergency hazardous materials response, and other emergency incidents. For many years the Ebbetts Pass Fire District response area was from the Utica Grade, one mile east of Murphys on State Route Highway 4, east to Meko Drive in Camp Connell. The original District covered 26 square miles in area. In 1997, due to the annexation of neighboring County Fire responsibility areas, the EPFD responsibility area grew to 204 square miles. The general area of the District now extends from the Utica Grade on Highway 4 on the west, to the Alpine County line on the east. The Stanislaus River on the southern side of the District to the South Fork of the Mokelumne River on the north.
The estimated permanent population of the District is approximately 8,000+. Being a
primary recreational area which includes a significant number of weekend and vacation
(second) homes, the number of people in the area significantly increases on weekends and
holidays. Estimates of weekend and holiday population range from 15,000 to
20,000+ or greater.
A 1995 study (before annexation) by Fire Loss Management Systems on behalf of Calaveras County, estimated there were 415 mobile homes, 6,000 residential structures and 230 commercial occupancies within the District. The assessed value within the District is approximately $850 million.
Emergency response within a recreational area such as that in the area of the Ebbetts Pass
Fire District, present very diverse challenges. Ebbetts Pass Fire District personnel
must be trained in diverse subjects such as; ice rescue, swift & calm water rescue,
over-the-bank & technical rope rescue, and the more usual EMS, structural &
wildland fire fighting.
Click on the thumbnails for larger images
Picture # 1: Ebbetts Pass and CDF personnel combine their efforts to extinguish a mid summer attic fire.
Picture # 2: Ebbetts Pass personnel practice swift water rescue.
Picture # 3: Ebbetts Pass personnel are given an EMS/Triage drill for EMT rectification.
Picture # 4: Ebbetts Pass personnel begin a water rescue drill.
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