Redwood Fire Station
21452 Madrone Dr
Redwood Estates, CA 95030
Built: 1979
Redwood Station is responsible for the department's shift scheduling and overtime staffing.
High above the Santa Clara Valley in the Santa Cruz mountains, Redwood Station is the most isolated of the department's stations, being almost 7 miles (11km) of winding mountain highway from it's second-in support. Because of this, and the lack of hydrants in the mountains, it is the only stations to have a water tender to supply water (technically a Reserve Engine). Redwood Station is comprised of two buildings: an apparatus shed and a double-wide premanufactured home converted to offices, a day room, and crew quarters. Photo above shows the crew quarters with water tender 4 parked in front.
Engine 4 is a 2001 HME/Westates model SFO 4x4 with a Cummings 350hp engine. It has a 1250gpm pump, a 700 gallon tank, 18 gallons of Class A foam, and through-the-tank ladder storage. This engine has an illuminated light board on the back that displays over 60 preprogrammed messages such as "left lane closed ahead", "keep back 200 feet", etc.
Reserve Engine 104 is the former Reserve Engine 115 from Los Altos Station. It is a 1984 Pierce/Dash with a 1250gpm (4740 l/m) pump.
The former Engine 4 was a 1985 Van Pelt/Duplex 4x4 with a 750gpm (2840 l) pump. The photo above was taken during 4x4 offroad training in August, 1998. Although at first glance it appears as though someone has actually made a firetruck do a wheelie, all four wheels are in fact on the ground. FF/E Rich Moreland is "driving", while FF/E/P Bob Brewer and Captain Brad Darbro provide encouragement and ballast. Formerly Engine 4, the photos show it in this earlier designation; the only change made for it's reassignment was new lettering on it's sides.
Because of the mountainous roads in it's response area, these engines have a short wheelbase along with four wheel drive, and Engine 104's pump panel is mounted up in the driver's side passenger position. This is to provide additional safety when working on state highway 17, a notorious narrow winding mountain highway in Redwood Station's response area, which has many hairpin curves that cause numerous accidents. See below for examples.
Both of these rigs were set up to run on narrow, winding mountain roads. They both have extra lights mounted in front, that point diagonally "cross-eyed" across the headlight beams. These lights, which are connected to only come on when the high beams and a deadman foot switch are activated, help the driver see around sharp corners when the headlights point straight ahead.
The original volunteer apparatus barn and first mobile home station.
Redwood Station in the 1980s. The photo on the left shows the new apparatus barn, and the photo on the right shows it after it was expanded to two bays, with Engine 19 on the pad.
The former Water Tender 4 was a 1971 Van Pelt/International with a 1400 gallon (5300 l) capacity tank and a 1000gpm (3790 l/m) pump. It was retired in 2001.
Two shots of Redwood Station with snow, a fairly rare phenomenon even up in the hills. Normally the snow doesn't last very long, but apparently it was around long enough, and in sufficient quantities, to require chains on the engine. Dates unknown, probably circa late 1960s - early 1970s.
Two views of Engine 38, owned by the department from 1950-1976. This engine was run out of Redwood by volunteers. Dates unknown.
Engine 37 (later Engine 4) was a 1963 Ford/Van Pelt, which served at Redwood. It had a 500 gallon tank and a 500gpm pump.
Two shots of Tanker 4, a 1960 International/Van Pelt, with a 250gpm pump and a 1250 gallon tank. It formerly served at Quito Station. Right photo circa 1982.
Engine 4 was a 1968 Ford/Van Pelt, with a 750gpm pump and a 750 gal tank. It was formerly Los Gatos fire department Engine 33. Photo circa 1982.
Below is a sample of some of the many vehicle accidents that Redwood Station responds to on a regular basis.
Rollover. A semi loaded with candy. 24 Sep 1994, 0640, causing a 9 hour traffic jam, Minor injuries to the driver.
Two views of a pickup truck off an embankment.
Capt. Steven Franklin points to the "drive carefully" sign that the driver of the overturned tanker truck should have paid more attention to. June 1998.
This compressed "Z" hit a redwood tree on highway 17 sometime in 2001. Captain T. Hall, firefighter J. Baker and firefighter J. Holquin extricated the driver after pulling the steering column. The driver came to just as the flames from his engine fire were starting to lick the inside of his broken windshield. Unfortunately, the impact killed the passenger.
This photo of B/C Jim Ackley was used in an article in the Wed., 5 May 1971 San Jose Mercury News, page 3, entitled "'Blood Alley' Claims 3 More Lives". The two-car head-on collision occurred at Moody Gulch on highway 17.
A twelve-vehicle (10 car, 2 truck) pileup on highway 17, 12 December 1975, resulting in one fatality. At least five others were injured. These photos, scanned from San Jose Mercury News newspaper articles, show firefighters trying to pry the wreckage apart. Right photo shows FF Bernard Hardwick.
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