Nov. 09--ANGELUS OAKS -- When a fire or other emergency erupted in this mountain community a half-century ago, the town's alarm sounded and residents flooded the scene to assist a neighbor in need.
In 1974, Angelus Oaks got its first fire station, basically a storage facility for equipment.
One paid-call firefighter, Vance Tomaselli, used that station for 28 years. He jumped out of bed or left the family dinner table whenever his pager beeped, until he had a massive stroke while driving to a structure fire.
When dozens of firefighters and residents gathered for the unveiling of the new Station 98 on Friday, an ambulance featured a fresh sticker on the side: "In memory of Captain Vance Tomaselli Angelus Oaks Volunteer Fire Company 15 1949-2008."
"My father would be totally honored and proud of this station," said Vance's son, Jim Tomaselli, who started his career at Station 98 and is now a division chief for the U.S. Forest Service.
Like the Tomaselli family and other men and women have worked out of the Angelus Oaks station, the current crew comprises paid-call firefighters, not their full-time job.
But that doesn't make this job any less important.
"I've driven through a snowstorm with my head out the window to a scene," said fire Engineer Norm Cione.
He's worked at Angelus Oaks for 38 years, conducting searches, responding to fatal accidents along Highway 38 or providing fire protection during a manhunt.
"When this pager goes off," Cione said, standing in an office in the new building, "we respond."
Outside the station's office door Friday, neighbors conversed next to a steaming coffee pot and tables of food, complimentary coffee mugs and fire brochures.
This open-to-the-public community room is special to the folks of Angelus Oaks who have no community or senior center.
"We are the heart of town," Cione said.
After using neighboring fire facilities for the past year while the $2.275 million building was being constructed, the men and women of Station 98, as well as the tourists and townspeople they serve, have a new home.
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