How we became the Scotia Volunteer Fire Department...

A disastrous fire, which destroyed the mill and a great deal of the town of Scotia early in 1895, pointed out that fire protection was badly needed.

On September 21, 1908, a meeting was held in the Scotia Hall for the purpose of organizing a volunteer fire department.  The Scotia Volunteer Fire Department was established to protect The Pacific Lumber Company mills, the town of Scotia and its residents. By-Laws and a Constitution were drawn and E. A. Blocklinger was elected Chief.

The department started with two hose companies which consisted of 21 men each, one tank company with six men and an Officers & Fire Police company.  The tank company had a wooden railroad tank car which held several thousand gallons of water. This could be readily moved by one of the several railroad steam engines which normally worked throughout the yard area. The fire pump on the tank was steam operated and could be quickly put into service using steam from the engine.

In 1910, Hose Company number Three was added to the Department and the number of men for each hose company was increased to thirty men.

In 1923, a Model T Ford chemical fire truck with solid tires was purchased. This was a big advance in fire protection. This truck was replaced in 1929 by an American LaFrance Pumper which was used until 1953.

Engine 5 is a Seagrave 500 gallon per minute pumper which was purchased in 1953 and retired in 2005. Engine 6  is a Ford fire truck that was purchased in 1956 and used as a utility truck. Engine 6 was retired in 2006. Engine 7 , 1978 International is one of our current trucks operating today, In 2005, we purchased a 1986 Pierce Dash Engine and it is currently in use.

In 1916, the old saloon was remodeled into a new firehall and in 1950 that building was demolished and a new building constructed.

The Scotia Volunteer Fire Department has 3 companies in the department, two hose companies and the third being Officers & Police. The manpower of the Department is around 25 (plus) members, all volunteers, with the exception of the Fire Chief.

Up until May 19, 1911, the Secretary/Treasurer served without pay. It was then voted to pay a salary of $10.00 a month for the Secretary/Treasurer’s service.

The mill whistle was, and still is, used for a fire alarm.

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Our Goal

We take pride in our training of all of our firefighters.

Our main goal, in every scenario, is to make sure every one of us is safe from harm and our main goal is to send them home the way they came to the firehall. Without that, we can not be here today to help you in the time of crisis.

In July of 1911 the first annual “Fireman’s Day” was held at the Scotia ballpark. The annual “Fireman’s Picnic” is still enjoyed by its members and their families.

Hose cart racing teams were very popular in the early fire department days. Similar competitions still exist today using modern fire fighting equipment. One of the old hose carts has a place of honor in the Scotia Museum.

The Department has always been a part of the community with its social functions and support of many youth organizations in Humboldt County.

Scotia Volunteer Fire Department

Fire Chiefs

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1908—1909        E. A. Blocklinger

1909—1910        Will Noble

1910—1914        Charles Wescott

1914—1927        Earl Cartright

1927—1929        P. C. Peterson

1929—1964        J. R. Wood

1964 –1967        Ted Worswick

1967- 1977         Charles Langdon

1977—1986        Orval Overholt

1986—1999        Kendal Mangrum

1999—Current    John Broadstock