New chief at Johnson Lane Volunteer Fire Department

Dave Becker was elected to be the new chief at the Johnson Lane Fire Department right across the street from Pinon Hills Elementary School. Chief Becker and his wife moved here 12 years ago from San Diego. They have two children at Pinon Hills.

Dave used to work in Post Emergency Hazardous Material spills in Los Angeles, so when they moved here he knew he needed to volunteer in the community and he figured the fire station was the right up his alley.

For the past 11 years he has been a volunteer firefighter in his spare time, he works full time at North Sails. Dave has been the assistant chief for the past five years and he has been to the National Fire Academy in Maryland three times and he was the program manager for the state fire marshal. We are lucky to have such a hard worker as our new chief. Congratulations, Dave!

Volunteers needed

Are you aware that our Johnson Lane FireDepartment is an all-volunteer station? They are in need of more volunteers to help out in many capacities. Douglas County pays for training for firefighter I and II state certification. It is about 160 hours of training as a firefighter and you can also be trained as an emergency medical technician.

Dave Becker says they are also looking for volunteers as support for restocking trucks, rolling hoses, mopping floors, washing the big, red fire engines and helping with fundraisers. If you can donate time in any capacity, just show up any Tuesday night at the fire house at 7 p.m. or call Dave at 721-7877 for information.

Annual pancake breakfast

Support your local fire department at the Johnson Lane Volunteer Fire Department pancake breakfast, this Sunday, June 8 from 8 a.m. to noon. Come and check out all the fire equipment and meet your neighbors. There will be a huge raffle and a silent auction. They will be serving pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, coffee, milk and orange juice all for only $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Hope to see you there.

Breaking news

I received a phone call from our son Garrett Wanket, a MM3 in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. They were off the coast of South America on the way to San Diego. The ship was in the Pacific Ocean when a fire broke out in the lower part of the ship where the auxiliary boiler room and air conditioning and refrigeration area is.

The power plant was not jeopardized. He and one other sailor got to go down to the bottom of the ship in full firefighter apparatus, once the fire was extinguished and inspect for hot spots. He was very excited to tell me this on the phone.

So instead of being in Hawaii for his birthday the middle of June, they will stay in San Diego for about four weeks to repair all of the electrical lines that were burned in the fire as well as other damage. I will have to make a trip down to see him.

n Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.