By Patric Hedlund

Fire Chief Brian Marshall began his dedication speech for the grand opening of Kern County Fire Station 58 with an apology. He looked around at the happy crowd with a serious gaze.

“I have to apologize because there will be no ice cream to be found in your town for the next few months,” he said grimly, a sparkle forming in his eyes. “We have a tradition. Kern County firefighters celebrate ‘firsts’ with ice cream…and this is a time of many firsts for our firefighters here.”

In 1974, Station 58 was a tiny real estate sales cabin, put to temporary duty to house the one Kern County firefighter stationed in Pine Mountain Club.

That location lasted 32 years. News reports show that in 2006…

Photo captions:

It took 40 years, but Kern County finally opened Station 58 in style. A crew from Tehachapi was flown in by helicopter for the ceremony.

Clockwise from top left: The KCFD honor guard raised the flag in a solemn and moving ceremony; a crowd of over 200 came for the opening celebration; Chief Marshall and Supervisor David Couch cut the ribbon to open the long-awaited Fire Station 58; and longtime community activists for the fire station and paramedic programs, Edie Stafford, Frances and A.J. Durocher celebrate a dream come true with KCFD Chief Brian Marshall and Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s staffer Vincent Fong.

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This is part of the September 12, 2014 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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