Chief Peter Van Fleet is assuming a new role with the Glen Ellen Volunteer Fire Department. He was promoted to fire marshal, ending a six-year run as the department’s chief.
“When I started, Glen Ellen had just opened the new fire station,” said the 69-year-old retired civil engineer, who has been working as a volunteer for the fire department since 1985. “I’m not really going to be leaving, but I am stepping down as chief. I’ve always been a volunteer and I think public service is important. It’s all about neighbors helping neighbors.”
The new fire chief is Matt Atkinson, a retired California State Park Ranger, who for several years has worked as ranch manager for the Benziger Winery. He moved with his family to the area in 1975 and joined the department in 1982, at the encouragement of then-chief Win Smith. Atkinson echoed Van Fleet’s attitude about public service.
“I want to carry on the tradition of Peter’s leadership and continue to provide the highest level of service we can to this community,” said Atkinson. “The one thing we all have in common is we all believe in public service and protecting the community where we live and raise our families.”
The Glen Ellen Volunteer Fire Department has been serving the community since 1923. According to Cal Fire battalion chief Kirk Van Wormer, volunteers with the Glen Ellen department and other departments in Sonoma County undergo the same rigorous training as professional firefighters.
“When you consider how much time and effort these people go through without pay, so they can serve their communities, it’s really very impressive,” said Van Wormer.
Volunteers with the department must be at least 18 years of age or older and live or work within the Glen Ellen Fire Protection District. According to the
requirements of the department, the training schedule can include “bi-weekly and weekly drills, day long training sessions with other agencies and month long certification courses.”
The training activities are coordinated with county and state fire agencies, such as Cal Fire. According to the department, the volunteers perform all the duties of professional departments, including “fire suppression, protecting life and property, assisting victims in medical or trauma emergencies and assisting the public during any emergency situation.”
“We get about 300 calls during the year. There’s a lot of getting up in the middle of the night,” said Van Fleet. “I’ve been gone for days helping to fight wildfires. We helped to stop the Cavedale fire in 1996 and there have been other close calls.”
Everything from being part of teams that traveled south and helped fight the San Diego and San Bernardino wildfires of the past decade, to helping get a 4-year-old boy who managed to wedge himself behind a refrigerator, are just a few of the memories Van Fleet has of his 30 -years serving the Glen Ellen area.
“Glen Ellen is a fantastic group of people,” said Cal Fire’s Van Wormer. “We have a great working relationship with those people and their help is critical to us when we are combating large wildfires.”
Atkinson noted that other members of the department were promoted on Oct. 6, including Rusty Sims as the new assistant chief, and Chris Landry as the new battalion chief.
He said the community appreciated Van Fleet’s commitment to the department, his dedication, and his competence in serving as chief for the last six years. When asked what he would most take away from his experiences with the department, Van Fleet said it was the spirit of volunteerism.
“I would encourage anyone to be a volunteer in the community. Our little fire department is like a family and public service to your community is what this all means to me,” said Van Fleet.
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