El Dorado County Fire Protection District

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

ABC10 recently featured Placerville’s run to become Hallmark Channel’s Merriest Christmas Town. Placerville is one of just 25 communities nationwide in the contest and the only California nominee!!

This is the part where the whole town comes together, finds the Hickory Honey Ham, gets Frosty on the roof before Blair and Enrique arrive, and proves that sometimes it really does take the whole neighborhood to save Christmas.

So cue the 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights, fire up the hot cocoa, straighten that little Charlie Brown Christmas tree, and summon enough holiday spirit to make a Grinch’s heart grow three sizes.

Could this be the scene where the big-city lawyer comes to the small town, meets the local Christmas tree farmer trying to save the family tree farm, and realizes that maybe small-town life, and a little unexpected Christmas romance, was what they were looking for all along?

Check out the ABC10 story below, then help us spread the word and support the City of Placerville!

🎅 Watch and share the story:

https://www.abc10.com/video/news/local/placerville-competes-to-be-hallmarks-merriest-christmas-town/103-1a7b9909-9e62-422e-9008-d1e974ccf80b

🎄 Tell Cousin Eddie to put down the RV waste hose, grab a cup of Christmas cheer, and don’t forget to cast a vote for Placerville!

And if you really want that Jelly of the Month Club satisfaction, cast your own vote every day. It’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

Let’s show the rest of the country that when it comes to Christmas spirit, Placerville is already hard to beat.

After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is voting for Placerville for all to hear. 🎄❤️

Placerville is in the running to be named Hallmark's Merriest Christmas Town.

08/25/2026

Just after 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, firefighters responded to a reported garage fire on Green Valley Road, just west of Mallard Road in Placerville.

The fire involved a garage and several vehicles and extended into nearby vegetation, burning just under one-half acre. Firefighters have stopped the forward progress of the fire, and crews remain on scene conducting mop-up operations.

No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Agencies assisting at the incident include El Dorado County Fire Protection District, CAL FIRE, Rescue Fire Protection District, CAL FIRE/Cameron Park Fire Department, Placerville Police Department, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and PG&E.

Please use caution in the area while emergency crews continue working.

08/20/2026

Please be advised that propane flaring is occurring today, August 20, and may continue tomorrow, August 21, at the former AmeriGas facility near the corner of Mallard Lane and Green Valley Road in Placerville.

The work involves two large flare stands, which may produce visible flames that can be seen from the surrounding area. Workers are on site while the flaring operation is underway.

The Fire District is aware of this planned activity. The visible flames associated with the flaring operation do not need to be reported to emergency services.

We are sharing this information so nearby residents and motorists are aware of the activity and are not alarmed by the visible flames.

08/14/2026

On Tuesday evening, August 11, two Bay Medic Ambulance EMTs and two off-duty first responders came upon a single-vehicle collision, in the American River canyon near Cool, where a vehicle had struck an oak tree and was beginning to catch fire.

Bay Medic Ambulance EMTs Mason Ray and Rocco Lucchesi, off-duty El Dorado County Fire Protection District Paramedic Shannon O’Neill, and Grant Gentry, a Fire Apparatus Engineer with the CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit, found the driver still inside the vehicle and immediately worked together to remove her to safety.

By the time the first El Dorado County Fire Protection District engine arrived, the vehicle was fully involved in fire. Their actions saved the driver’s life.

O’Neill continued providing advanced life support care while firefighters focused on extinguishing the vehicle fire and preventing it from spreading into the surrounding vegetation. The patient was transported by Medic 61 to a landing zone and transferred to CALSTAR 3 for air transport to Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

El Dorado County Fire Protection District firefighters worked alongside the CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit to extinguish the fire, while the California Highway Patrol responded to investigate the collision.

We are proud to recognize Mason, Rocco, Shannon and Grant for their quick thinking, teamwork and willingness to act when seconds mattered.

Press Release: https://www.eldoradocountyfire.com/press-release-quick-actions-by-emt-crew-and-off-duty-first-responders-save-driver-from-burning-vehicle

CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit

07/27/2026

Our Helicopter Rescue Technician (HRT) members and other resources trained with our rescue helicopter hoist partner CHP Valley Division Air Operations on Friday. This program emphasizes quickly accessing victims and removing them from harm. Training is critical for our HRT members and the CHP flight crews to stay ready to, at a moments notice, perform these technical operations.

07/21/2026

Please join us in congratulating Jacob Poganski on his promotion to Deputy Fire Chief!

Deputy Chief Poganski was officially sworn in and received his new badge during a pinning ceremony held July 20 at Station 49 in Diamond Springs.

In his new role, Deputy Chief Poganski will continue to serve as the District’s Fire Marshal and will also oversee Communications, Community Risk Reduction, and External Government Affairs.

Deputy Chief Poganski has served the El Dorado County Fire Protection District for 19 years and has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, public service, and the safety of our community and personnel.

A formal promotional ceremony recognizing Deputy Chief Poganski and other recently promoted members will be held at a future date.

Congratulations, Deputy Chief Poganski!

07/19/2026

Miners fire in Pilot Hill

07/11/2026

We join the fire and emergency medical services community in mourning the passing of Randy Mantooth, best known for his portrayal of Firefighter-Paramedic Johnny Gage on the groundbreaking television series Emergency!

Beginning in 1972, Johnny Gage and Roy DeSoto introduced millions of Americans to a new model of emergency care: highly trained paramedics responding from the fire station and bringing advanced medical treatment directly to the patient. The series helped the public understand and support the emerging paramedic profession, while inspiring generations of firefighters, EMTs and paramedics to serve their communities.

That history has a special connection to El Dorado County. In July 1977, some of the first ambulance service agreements on the West Slope were established with the Po***ck Pines Fire Protection District and the Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District. The service established in Po***ck Pines—and later carried forward through the former Po***ck Pines-Camino Fire Protection District—helped build the foundation for the fire-based paramedic and ambulance system serving our communities today.

While Randy Mantooth portrayed a paramedic on television, his commitment to EMS continued long after the series ended. He became a respected advocate for firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical services professionals across the country.

His legacy lives on each time a firefighter-paramedic answers the call, brings advanced care to someone in need and carries forward the mission that Emergency! helped introduce to the nation.

Rest in peace, Randy Mantooth. Thank you for helping tell the story of paramedicine—and for inspiring generations to become part of it. We'll take it from here. Squad 51 clear. KMG-365