September 22, 2025
In anticipation of my retirement as the Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Chief and General Manager, I wanted to reflect on my tenure and accomplishments regarding the Fallen Leaf Lake CSD and Fire Department.
It has been an honor to serve this community as your Fire Chief and General Manager since 2010. It has been especially rewarding helping to shape the next generation of Fire Fighters. The Resident Recruit Program was particularly innovative and was two-fold in its impact. Through the implementation of the Resident Recruit program, we were able to deploy strike teams to defray the cost of services that the community has expressed interest in having. Additionally, recruits were provided on-the-job training allowing them to gain skills they would then be able to use as their careers developed.
To date, a total, $10,915,674.00 in strike team gross income, of which $4,366,390.32 was delivered in ALS services, defensible space crews, defensible space inspector, personnel and operations. The fire apparatus acquisitions (one Type 1 Engine, one Type 1 Reserve Engine, four Type 3 Brush Engines, one Type 6 Mini Pumper, one Type 6 Reserve Pumper, two UTV Fire EMS units, one Patrol Unit, two Utility Pickups, one 1,500 gpm Fire Boat, one 400 gpm. Fire Boat-winter ops and two Command Vehicles) were either provided free from the US government, purchased through AFG grants or through EL Dorado County funding. The remainder were through lease/purchase programs. Currently, only one type 3 is on the lease/purchase program with 3 payments left. The rest of the equipment is fully paid for.
A summary of my tenure here and the highlights of apparatus that have been acquired:
- 2010
- Starting equipment:
- 1987 Mack Pumper – Engine 9
- 1997 Type 6 – Brush 91
- 2001 Patrol Truck – P9
- 1984 Model 42 – Brush Type 3
- 1980’s Fire Boat – converted fishing boat
- 3 paid on-duty personnel, one per shift, 20+ volunteer personnel
- Negotiated agreement with Cal Fire to respond to all incidents when available and continued thereafter each year.
- Insurance Services Office (ISO) – Property Protection Class (PPC) rating was at 4/4X. This is the rating insurers use to establish insurance premiums for homeowners
- Starting equipment:
- 2011
- Cindy hired as assistant and Shawn hired as bookkeeper who are both employed to date.
- Hired additional 3 firefighters to have 2 per shift.
- 2012
- Acquired used OES pumper Engine 91 at a cost of $50,000.
- Acquired US Forest Service Type 3 Wild land Apparatus at no cost to district – Brush 92.
- Engine 91 and Brush 92 were painted, serviced and put into operation.
- Worked in collaboration with EL Dorado County on grant to assist with Fire Boat purchase. Obtained $250,000 toward the new fire boat purchase for total cost of approximately $400,000. Obtained a discount of $50,000 from boat manufacturer by allowing them to demo boat prior to delivery. Fire boat cost to district approximately $80,000.
- Obtained Volunteer Fire Assistance grant (VFA) which is a 50-50 split grant of up to $40,000 total which is used yearly for wildfire operations. The grant has continued to be applied for each year and has been awarded each subsequent year to present. The district is able to purchase wild land boots, gear, etc. to outfit firefighters with state-of-the-art equipment.
- 2013
- Fire boat 9 delivered. Old fireboat was put into reserve status for winter operations.
- FLLFD began program of Resident Recruit fire academy graduates who work and train at Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Department allowing them to earn Firefighter 1 credentials. Four Resident Recruits (RR) began working shifts with paid personnel.
- 2014
- Continuation of 2 on-duty personnel working with Resident Recruits on shift.
- Acquired 2014 Chevy Tahoe as Chief vehicle for approximately $40,000.
- Applied for and awarded AFG grant to acquire new Type 1 Engine for 2015 receipt. Total cost of $480,000. 95% of which was paid for through grant. Cost to district approximately $24,000 that was paid for from strike team funds.
- AFG Fire Prevention and Safety grant obtained to purchase critical Plymovent Vehicle Exhaust and Extraction System to clean toxic exhaust from fire station. Cost to district was 5% of total cost of system.
- 2015 – 2017
- 10 RR firefighters added to personnel. 8-10 added in each subsequent year.
- Receipt of new HME Type 1 through grant- Engine 9 for a cost of $362,471.62 of which 95% paid for by the grant.
- Enhanced RR training program. Implemented training ‘Task Book’ enumerating skills and training tasks to facilitate Resident Recruits in obtaining Firefighter 1 status.
- 2018
- FLLFD was accepted into Joint Powers Authority Tahoe Basin as part of El Dorado County Emergency Medical Services Agency – EMSA. Medical Equipment was purchased to begin Advanced Life Support – ALS of which was partially funded by Stanford Sierra Camp for start-up equipment.
- 2019
- El Dorado County EMSA Medical Director conducted inspection of FLLFD facility and approved of FLLFD Advance Life Support service.
- Advanced Life Support continues to be provided to the public to the present day. Paramedic personnel are employed on each shift.
- 2020 – 2024
- Acquired Brush 91 for $289,869.00 through lease/purchase agreement.
- Accepted donation of 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe at no charge to district to be used as fire Chief vehicle.
- Obtained additional Fire Boat 91 at $113,900 purchased through lease/purchase that can be used in winter months while moored at Stanford Camp.
- 2025
- Three water pumps were purchased to be used to pump lake water for fire suppression. Two of which were installed at the west side of the lake which are now in operation. The third pump will be installed at the east side of the lake.
CSD Property Improvements
- Reorganization of current CSD and Fire Department offices.
- Two new stairways to beach were installed: one near the rental office and the other behind the store. ($20,000 – $10,000 CLM – $10,000 CSD)
- LED lighting on exterior. ($1,100)
- Exterior of CSD building and Fire station stained. ($37,000)
- Improvements in store equipment. ($10,000)
- Negotiated with STPUD to fully pay for re-pavement half of lower parking lot. ($100,000)
- Interior divider wall was removed from community building. ($2,000)
- Defensible space of entire community area and clean-up of hazard trees. ($100,000 per year for years 2022, 2023, 2025, funding unavailable for 2024)
- Removal of 1,000-gallon propane tank from front of the CSD property to east end of store and offices.
- Additional 1,000-gallon propane tank installed in the new location.
- Installation of 100 KW stand-by generator for support of store, cafe, marina and offices. ($12,000. plus $2,500)
- Installation of 20 KW stand-by generator for Fire Station. ($4,000)
- Fiber communication was installed after several years of general manager negotiations with AT&T. This installation was no cost to the district other than normal fees, which will at some point allow residents to access AT&T fiber for personal use. (initial quote of $280,000 – was negotiated to zero)
- Two boilers and an indirect water heater installed in store and CSD offices. ($36,000)
- New docks obtained through a partial grant from CAL PARKS for $177, 000 toward the cost of the docks with a total cost of $385,000.
Strike Team Deployments
- 2025: Blue, Conner, Dillon, Garnet, Gifford, Green, Orleans Complex, Pickett, Davis, Bear, Palisades, Eaton, Mountain, Callahan.
- 2024: Aero Fire, Thompson Fire, Shelly Fire, Station 9 Preposition/Mobilization, West Fork Fire/Mutual Aid, Mill Fire/Gold Complex, Park Fire.
- 2023: Pre-position/SLT, Rabbit Fire, South Fork Fire.
- 2022: Rice Fire, Electra Fire, Washburn Fire, Yeti Fire, SRF Complex1, SRF Complex 2, Mill Fire, Mountain Fire, Mosquito Fire.
- 2021: Salt Fire, Tamarack Fire1, Tamarack Fire 2, Dixie Fire 1, Dixie Fire 2, McFarland Complex (Monument Fire), Dixie Fire 3, Dixie Fire (McSweeney), Caldor Fire1, Caldor Fire 2, Caldor Fire 3, KNP Complex, Alisal Fire, Dixie Crew Swap.
- 2020: Badger Fire, Hog Fire 1, Hog Fire 2, Loyalton Fire 1, Loyalton Fire 2, SCU Light Complex 1, SCU Light Complex 2, BTU Complex, North Complex 1, North Complex 2, Glass Fire, August Complex, Silverado Fire, CA-OESH 1, CA-OESH 2.
- 2019: Long Valley Fire, Swedes Fire, Briceburg Fire, Kincade Fire.
- 2018: Lane Fire, Pawnee Fire, County Fire, Klamath Fire, jacks Valley Fire, County Fire, Klamath Fire 2, Ferguson Fire, Carr Fire, Station 5 Coverage 1, Gorge Fire, Mendocino Complex, Station 5 Coverage 2, North Fire, Snell Fire, Pre-Position 1, Pre-Position 2, Camp Fire.
- 2017: Winnemucca Fire, Wall Fire, Brenda Fire, Station Coverage 20, Detweiler Fire, TCU July Move-Up, Twist Fire, White Creek Fire, Parker Fire, Micro Fire, Ponderosa Fire, Slinkard Fire, Salmon August Complex, Mission Fire, McCourtney Fire, Wind Fire, central LNU Fire, Cascade Fire, Southern LNU, Thomas Fire.
- 2016: Trailhead Fire, Soberanes Fire, Goose Fire, Cold Fire, Jackpot Fire, Mineral Fire, Clayton Fire, Cedar Fire, Chimney Fire, Owens River Fire, Emerald Fire.
- 2015: Washington Fire, Cover Station 20, Cover Station 74, Lowell Fire, Rocky Fire, Change-Out, Barker Fire, Butte Fire.
- 2014: Sand Fire, Applegate Fire, King Fire.
- 2013: Rim Fire
Respectfully,
Chief Gary Gerren
