Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department

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Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department Founded in 1897, the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department, provides emergency response to our community

Founded in 1897, the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department is responsible for the preservation and protection of life and property for the City of Ferndale, and the surrounding rural area. The department is composed of three engine companies and one medical company.

Members of Ferndale Fire Department gathered for their weekly Thursday night training session, focusing on fundamental r...
09/18/2026

Members of Ferndale Fire Department gathered for their weekly Thursday night training session, focusing on fundamental rope mechanics, knot tying, and technical rigging applications. Led by Chief Rick Nicholson, the hands on drill aimed to ensure every firefighter on the floor maintains rapid muscle memory and operational precision when handling life safety rope in emergency scenarios.

Throughout the evening, Chief Nicholson guided crew members through essential hitches and knots, explaining their specific structural properties and high load capabilities. Firefighters spent time perfecting the water knot for joining flat tubular webbing in sling construction, mastering the foundational strength of the figure 8, utilizing the directional figure 8 for inline tensioned loads, and applying the clove hitch for quick anchor points and tool hoisting.

Building directly on those individual skills, the crew transitioned into practical, scenario based applications across the training ground. Firefighters practiced securing Stokes litters for safe patient transport, binding rigging lines to natural anchors like nearby trees, and tieing off to various structural fastening points and apparatus components to simulate challenging rescue environments.

Emphasizing the vital role that fundamental rigging plays in daily operations and technical rescues, Chief Nicholson highlighted why regular drill practice remains indispensable for the department.
"In low visibility, high stress environments, you don't have the luxury of second guessing your rigging. Understanding not just how to tie a knot, but precisely which knot to select for a Stokes basket, a tree anchor, or a structural fastening point is what keeps our patients and our crew safe. Mastery of these fundamentals turns complex technical rescues into second nature."

Thursday night drills remain a cornerstone of Ferndale Fire Department’s commitment to continuous preparation, ensuring local firefighters stand ready for any technical rescue or emergency response.

25 years ago today, a sunny September morning changed our nation forever.On September 11, 2001, ordinary men and women s...
09/11/2026

25 years ago today, a sunny September morning changed our nation forever.

On September 11, 2001, ordinary men and women showed extraordinary, selfless courage in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, military personnel, and everyday citizens stepped up without hesitation to answer the call. In our nation's darkest hours, their unwavering dedication to strangers proved that the spirit of human compassion and duty will always triumph over destruction.

Here in Ferndale, as volunteer firefighters and emergency responders, we carry the memory of those 343 fallen brothers, 71 law enforcement officers, and 5 paramedics with us every single day. They didn't pause to weigh the risks, they simply went to work, bound by a sacred oath to protect others. That sacrifice lives deep in the heart of the fire service. It rests on our shoulders every time the tones drop, every time we gear up, and every time we roll our rigs out of the station to serve our friends, families, and neighbors.

The passage of 25 years has not diminished the gravity of what was lost, nor has it softened our duty to remember. We hold in our hearts the 2,977 innocent lives cut short, the families who carry the quiet weight of grief, and the countless responders who continue to face health struggles from their time on the pile.

Today, the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department lowers our flag, pauses in quiet reflection, and recommits ourselves to the highest ideals of our profession: honor, courage, integrity, and selfless service to our community.

To those we lost, to those who served, and to those who continue to carry the torch: we stand with you, today and every day forward.

We remember. We honor. We will Never Forget.

09/07/2026

This morning just after 7:00am on our way to battle the fire on Port Kenyon.
Video courtesy of Renee Michelle Hanley

A fast moving trailer fire threatened several structures and vehicles early this morning on Port Kenyon Road, prompting ...
09/07/2026

A fast moving trailer fire threatened several structures and vehicles early this morning on Port Kenyon Road, prompting a multi agency response that successfully contained the blaze before it could cause widespread damage.

At approximately 7:00 a.m., crews from the Ferndale Fire Department were dispatched to the scene and arrived to find a residential trailer completely engulfed in flames. With radiant heat rapidly spreading the fire toward adjacent outbuildings, nearby vehicles, and surrounding vegetation, Incident Commander Chief 7300 Rick Nicholson immediately escalated the incident and called for mutual aid.

Firefighters launched an aggressive defensive attack to protect surrounding exposures. The operation gained critical support when MCI Construction dispatched an excavator to the scene, allowing crews to tear apart the collapsed trailer structure, access stubborn hot spots, and create a break between the flames and adjacent property.

Working in tandem, incoming mutual aid departments established steady water supplies and bolstered frontline suppression efforts. The coordinated assault paid off: within four hours of the initial dispatch, the fire was declared fully extinguished, and crews began overhaul and mop up operations. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Following the dynamic response, Chief Nicholson praised the seamless teamwork between the regional departments and support groups.
"When a fire is moving that fast toward nearby structures, every second counts," said Chief Rick Nicholson. "The quick action and seamless cooperation from Ferndale Fire, Loleta Fire, Fortuna Fire, Rio Dell Fire, Humboldt Bay Fire, Samoa Peninsula Fire District, and CalFire saved nearby property today. I also want to extend a sincere thank you to MCI Construction for bringing out the excavator when we needed it most, Ferndale Police Department and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for traffic control, Ferndale CERT team, Ferndale Fire Retired Members, and Buttercup Coffee. Their dedicated support with radio communications, and much needed refreshments kept our operations running smoothly and kept our firefighters hydrated and focused."

By late morning, all participating agencies had cleared the scene, leaving behind a protected neighborhood thanks to swift mutual aid and community cooperation.

Personnel present.:
Ferndale Fire, 3 engines, 1 tender, 1 rescue. 1 Chief. Loleta Fire 1 engine, 1 tender, 1 Chief. Rio Dell Fire, 1 engine, 1 tender, 1 Chief. Fortuna Fire 1 tender, 1 duty officer. Humboldt Bay Fire 1 engine. Samoa Fire 1 engine. CalFire 3 engines and 1 Chief. 41 Fire personnel. Ferndale CERT for rehab. Ferndale PD and HCSO for traffic control.

Photos courtesy of Ferndale Fire, Carl Gossien, and Renee Michelle Hanley.

Attention Ferndale Fire Protection District Residents: What You Need to Know About Measure FMeasure F is heading to the...
09/06/2026

Attention Ferndale Fire Protection District Residents: What You Need to Know About Measure F

Measure F is heading to the ballot for the November 3, 2026 general election, and qualified voters within the Ferndale Fire Protection District will decide if it passes with a required two thirds majority. The District's funding rates haven’t increased since 1984, meaning our local fire service is currently operating on a 42 year old budget framework despite exponential increases in the cost of living and emergency operations over the decades. If approved, Measure F will replace the existing assessment with a dedicated special tax to secure sustainable fire and rescue services, funding essential needs like volunteer recruitment, updated safety gear, equipment replacements, and emergency communications.

To help the revenue keep pace with rising costs moving forward, future tax adjustments are strictly capped annually based on the Consumer Price Index and must be approved in a public board meeting. Additionally, if FFPD’s proposed annexation of the Goodwill Response Area, covering Capetown, Upper Bear River Road, and Bunker Hill Road, is finalized, those properties would also become subject to the voter approved special tax. Should Measure F fail, the District will continue operating under its current, outdated funding structure, which could force difficult trade offs such as delaying apparatus upgrades or modifying how calls are handled to balance tight budgets.

Have questions or want to share your input? Join the community discussion at the public meeting on September 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Ferndale Town Hall. Alternatively you can contact Rick Nicholson, Ferndale Fire Chief, at 707-786-9909 or [email protected]

Firefighters successfully contained a vehicle fire on Mattole Road yesterday, preventing what could have easily turned i...
09/05/2026

Firefighters successfully contained a vehicle fire on Mattole Road yesterday, preventing what could have easily turned into a larger wildland blaze. Ferndale Fire Department units Engine 7313 and Utility 7349 responded alongside CalFire crews to a report of a passenger vehicle fully engulfed in flames near mile marker 22. Thanks to a quick, aggressive attack, firefighters made fast work of the vehicle fire while keeping extension into the surrounding roadside vegetation to an absolute minimum. Everything was fully extinguished before the fire could spread further, showcasing excellent coordination between local and state resources on our rural roadways. Great job to all responding crews for the rapid knockdown, and as a friendly reminder to drivers, always keep an eye on your vehicle’s gauges and fluid levels when traveling remote, winding stretches of road.

Photo courtesy of CO2 Captain Travis Grinsell.

Please join us in giving a warm congratulations to Jeff Hansen!Over the last six months, Jeff has put in countess hours ...
09/04/2026

Please join us in giving a warm congratulations to Jeff Hansen!

Over the last six months, Jeff has put in countess hours of training, hands on drills, and response work during his probationary period, demonstrating the skill, dedication, and heart it takes to serve our town.

To mark the official completion of his probation, Jeff was proudly sworn in by Chief Rick Nicholson. He is now officially onboard as a full fledged member of Company 4!

Stepping up as a volunteer firefighter takes real commitment, and we are incredibly fortunate to have dedicated members like Jeff watching out for our community day and night.

Drop a comment below to welcome Hansen to Company 4 and thank him for his service to Ferndale!

08/29/2026

Did you feel it? Tell us where you were and what you experienced in the comment section below. 👉 And read more on Redheaded Blackbelt. See comments.

08/28/2026

Copter 604, a S-70i Firehawk Type 1 takes off with Cal Fire’s Kneeland Helitack crew.

08/28/2026

Cal Fire’s Kneeland Helitack crew Readying for take off.

Address

436 Brown Street (PO Box 485)
Ferndale, CA
95536

Telephone

+17077869909

Website

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