Butte County accepts donated repairs to Concow's Station 38 as residents press for an engine to be returned

The Butte County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 adopted a resolution accepting $104,774 in donated improvements to Fire Station 38 in Concow and heard a lengthy public comment period urging the county to return a fire engine to that station.

The donations, organized by the Golden Feather Volunteer Fire Company and presented by volunteer leader Peggy Moke, include a concrete apron, repaired stairways and other accessibility and structural work. Director of General Services Mike Hodson described the repairs as “remarkable” and told the board the county prepared a resolution to accept the improvements.

Why it matters: Concerned residents said the absence of a staffed engine at Station 38 increases emergency response times and places greater risk on volunteers who must travel to Station 37 to retrieve equipment. Several speakers said volunteers already live within five minutes of Station 38 and that restoring equipment there would cut response times by 20 to 30 minutes for medical and fire calls.

Residents and volunteer leaders spoke in a near-continuous block of public comment. Peggy Moke, representing the Golden Feather Volunteer Fire Company, said the nonprofit formed in 1977 and had pledged to operate the station and that volunteers living in the basin include certified engine and water-tender drivers. “We encourage the county to consider surplusing, instead of surplusing a fire engine, to keep one and place it at Fire Station 38 so that we can serve our public timely,” Moke said.

Other Concow residents made similar appeals. Pete Moke said he could “attest to the urgency” of placing an engine at Station 38 and described turnaround times to fetch equipment as “pretty critical in someone's life.” Jenny Lowry, who said she represents campground and farm properties near the station, added: “For a first-aid emergency we have to wait 20 to 30 minutes for them to go get a truck to come back to the campground. We're asking that you please bring this truck to Station 38.”

Board response and next steps: Chair (presiding officer) acknowledged the speakers and said she had discussed the issue with Chief Schoeland and Peggy Moke. She declined to direct immediate action at the dais, saying she hires the fire chief “to be Butte County Fire Chief as a professional in making decisions.” The chair asked to meet again with the chief and indicated she would report back to the board. She also said other supervisors were welcome to attend that meeting.

Following public comment, the board voted to adopt a separate resolution accepting the donated station improvements. Mike Hodson said the county will record the improvements at an estimated value of $104,774.

The transcript shows multiple residents asked the board to agendize a return of fire apparatus to Station 38 at a future meeting and asked county staff and the fire chief to consider moving an existing unit from Station 37 to Station 38 or placing a surplus engine there. The chair asked to follow up with the fire chief and told residents she would be in touch.

No formal motion to place an engine at Station 38 was made or voted on at the Aug. 26 meeting; the board’s formal action that day was limited to accepting the donated physical improvements to the building. The county staff and the fire chief were asked to meet with supervisors and report back; supervisors said they could attend that follow-up discussion.

Ending: The Board accepted the donated improvements and paused further action while staff and the fire chief review operational options. Residents said they plan to continue pursuing restoration of an engine at Station 38 and requested the board agendize the issue if county staff recommend placement of an apparatus.