Meeks Bay Fire Station designated as an Advanced Life Support station

The west shore of Lake Tahoe now has access to advanced medical services with the announcement that the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District's Station 61 is now designated as an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Station.

As of January 16 2017, the station is now staffed with a minimum of one captain and one paramedic. Primary response from the station will continue to be E-61, with additional response from the closest medic unit. The ALS units at Meeks Bay Fire Protection District work as part of comprehensive plan to provide the advanced services to the west and north shore of Lake Tahoe.

Instead of a traditional ribbon cutting, Meeks Bay Fire (MBF) cut a ceremonial strip of gauze to celebrate the ALS upgrade.

Moments after following the celebration, a vehicle accident occurred directly in front of the station with one of the two victims extricated from the vehicle using the “Jaws of Life.”

“While this is not how I had hoped the ALS Engine program would be initiated in Meeks Bay, I was grateful that we had the paramedic equipment, medications and personnel to their benefit” said North Tahoe Fire (NTF) Chief Schwartz “The on-duty crew Captain Gary Nelson and Paramedic Erik Gustafson performed to the highest standards.”

Photo: Left to Right: Meeks Bay Fire (MBF) Office Manager, Shawn Crawford; MBF Board Vice President, Nick Kromydas; North Tahoe Fire (NTF) Chief Michael Schwartz; MBF Board President Ed Miller; MBF and NTF Firefighter/Paramedic Erik Gustafson; MBF Director Steve Hyde; MBF Board Director Bruce Massie and MBF and NTF Captain Gary Nelson.