As many of you know, I have long been an advocate for the California Fire Museum and Safety Learning Center, and for preserving the heritage of our California firefighters in a permanent facility in the Great Park.

I recently received this important fundraising message from Don Croucher, President of the California Fire Museum and a retired Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief, and I want to share it with you:

“After 10 years of working with the City Of Irvine (Orange County Great Park), we are close to receiving the 5 acres of land we need to build our Museum and Safety Center. 

We now need to raise $30,000 to pay for our Feasibility Funding Campaign. We have raised half of the funds so far ($16,500), but need to raise the rest soon so we can move forward with our Funding Campaign.

We are a 501 (c) (3) non-profit and all of our staff are volunteers who have worked very hard to put us at the top of the list for the much-needed land at the Great Park for our facility.

This fundraiser will show the City that we have the support of the community and the fire service. It is time we show support for our firefighters in Orange County by providing a place to honor them.

All adjacent counties have a fire museum to honor their firefighters, but Orange County does not.

Please donate today and show your support for all the firefighters who have been working so hard to save our communities from the ravaging fires all over California.”

As a member of the Irvine City Council, and as the Vice Chair of the Orange County Great Park, I want to add my voice to what Don has said: Community support is an extremely important factor in deciding what will be included in the Great Park — and there is no clearer indication of community support than financial donations from members of the community.

The mission of the California Fire Museum is:

• To preserve and protect the history and heritage of the fire service in general, with special emphasis on the California Fire Services.
• To collect, restore, preserve and exhibit apparatus, equipment, art and artifacts of the firefighting profession.
• To provide life safety, fire safety and fire prevention education to the community.
• To educate the public about firefighters, firefighting and emergency services.

You can learn more about the California Fire Museum and Safety Leaning Center at their website here and their Facebook page here.

You can MAKE A DONATION HERE.

Thank you.

Melissa