Volunteer firefighters are often the first responders on the scene of an accident in in rural Mendocino County. They put in a lot of time, learning the technical skills they need to be effective in a range of emergencies. Right now, thirty volunteer firefighters from Piercy to the South Coast and points between are taking part in a Chiefs Academy, which is three months of training every weekend to acquire those skills.
Most recently, they were in Hopland, lowering each other into a ravine by the side of a road, so they’ll know what to do if they have to retrieve an unfortunate motorist.
Ron Roysum is a volunteer battalion chief for Hopland Fire as well as an owner and the lead instructor for Rescue Solutions, a company specializing in technical rescue services. He says there are about thirty over the cliff rescues a year in his district alone.