Mt. Shasta Vista Volunteer Fire Company is a private, non-profit corporation contracted by Siskiyou County to provide emergency services to an area surrounding and including Mt. Shasta Vista subdivision - the subdivision is only about one sixth of the fire company service area.

The volunteer firefighters serve as our first line of defense against the ever-present risk of fire. These brave men and women are also our first responders in case of medical emergency. In fact, says Chief Mary Cameron, approximately 80 percent of the average 35 calls per year are for medical emergencies.

"We have seven volunteers now," says Chief Cameron.  "We need at least five more." Fire fighter volunteers should be under age 60, in good health and able to attend monthly meetings and participate in weekly training sessions that usually take about two hours. Please click here for more information or to apply to be a firefighter.

If you cannot volunteer to be a fire fighter/first responder, there may still be a way for you to contribute. "There's more to do at the fire department than fighting fires," says the Chief. "We need auxiliary members and we always have things to do."

Most fires are "trash burning gone bad," says Cameron. If you must burn trash, get a burn permit. Burn in a clear area, away from trees and dry brush. Keep a hose at hand. Choose a day when there is no wind. Have a cell phone with you, if possible. Please click here for more information on safe debris burning or to find out how to get a burn permit.

Lightning and power equipment also cause fires locally. Traffic collisions occur more often than one might expect here, and often result in injuries. The appropriate speed for travel on our gravel roads is 15 MPH.

Chief Cameron adds,