Rough and Ready, CA—With special thanks to their Behind the Scenes (BTS) Fire Auxiliary, Rough and Ready Fire Station 59, located at 14506 Rough and Ready Highway, is now fully equipped with Advanced Life Support (ALS) apparatus.
BTS has provided critical funding to purchase everything necessary to fully equip both the engine and ambulance with ALS capability, including Life Pack 15 Cardiac Monitors, Lucas chest compression devices, stair chairs for patient extrication, video laryngoscopes, ALS medications, suction units, mass casualty equipment, airway bags, medical bags and trauma bags.
BTS raises their annual budget by hosting a monthly spaghetti dinner at Rough and Ready Fire Station 59 and by operating the Rough and Ready Fire Baked Potato Booth at the Nevada County Fair.
If you would like to help support the Rough and Ready Fire Station, you may volunteer for the 2025 Potato Booth. Please contact Teri at (530) 913-4669 to be added to the volunteer schedule. If you would like to support the station by attending the donation-supported monthly spaghetti dinner, it is held on the third Thursday of every month from 5-7 p.m. at the Rough and Ready Fire Station.
Rough and Ready Fire Station 59 has served the 9 square miles of Rough and Ready with Fire Protection and emergency medical service (EMS) since its completion in 2012. Originally operated by Rough and Ready Fire Protection District (RARFPD), a lack of funding had left the fate of the station up in the air. Local residents and a neighboring fire district joined together to ensure the doors stay open. Their efforts have made it possible to enhance the level of service for residents of Rough and Ready and the surrounding areas of Penn Valley and Grass Valley.
Rough and Ready Fire Protection District (RARFPD) and Penn Valley Fire Protection District (PVFPD) are currently applying to Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) for Consolidation in a move that will keep Station 59 open to serve the community. Upon consolidation, the two joined districts will operate under the name of Penn Valley Fire Protection District and continue to provide enhanced ALS services.
On June 1, 2025, Penn Valley Fire Protection District (PVFPD) assumed full staffing of Station 59 and now provides Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics on the fire engine. In addition, an ALS equipped ambulance is also available for dispatch from Station 59. Ambulances are increasingly in short supply in Nevada County. As requests for medical assistance appear to be increasing it is not uncommon for Nevada County residents to experience a wait for an ambulance, sometimes coming from as far away as Yuba or Placer Counties. The introduction of a 3rd ambulance into the Penn Valley/Rough and Ready dispatch area allows faster response times.