YOSEMITE LAKES PARK — Dozens of YLP residents came out Saturday for a ribbon cutting — and old-fashioned ice cream social — to welcome a new two-engine parking structure next to Madera County Fire Station 10.
The 1,600-square-foot aluminum addition is large enough to house an engine and 4,000-gallon water tender — allowing all-volunteer Station 10 to field a total of five response vehicles.
The new apparatus bays cost about $55,000 — with all of the money coming from donations and community fundraisers.
The YLP Owners Association donated the land and a number of local businesses contributed labor and materials to the project. Those businesses included Cobalt Construction, Martinez Steel, Bobcat Grading, Chad’s Trucking, Ead’s Construction and Outback Materials.
Fire Station 10 currently has more than a dozen volunteer firefighters.
Battalion Chief Justin Macomb (far right) listens as Capt. Jack Fulcher speaks at Saturday’s ribbon cutting.
The station’s four newest recruits received their badges just prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday.
“I am proud to say that statistically, Station 10 is one of the most active paid-call fire stations that we have in Madera County, with a response rate of 95 percent to all calls for service,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Justin Macomb, who spoke briefly along with the station’s long-time volunteer leader, Capt. Jack Fulcher.
Fire Station 10, located at 29453 Glacier Drive, was founded in 1971 by Robert Keepers, who was also station’s first chief.
In addition to YLP, Station 10’s primary coverage area includes Coarsegold, Raymond and O’Neals. One of the trucks to be stationed in YLP came from Station 17 in O’Neals, which was recently closed.
Visitors to Saturday’s event were treated to a carnival-like atmosphere that included bounce houses and scoops and scoops of ice cream, doled out in cones, cups, sundaes and floats.
Attendees also got an up-close-and-personal look at the new bays and equipment — and were able to talk with the station’s firefighting personnel, who also attended the event.
During his speech, Capt. Jack thanked the YLP community “for its generous support.”
Arlo Park, 3, was a big fan of the cotton candy.
“This new apparatus bay was made possible through generous donations made by members of this community,” Macomb said.
“Whether you donated at a car wash or attended a pancake breakfast, you all helped make this possible.”
Rowen Park, 4, tried on some gear.
