City of Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros has announced the formation of a Foundation to help with accomplishing the many community service goals he has for the City of Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department. The nearly 100-year old Fire Department has operated primarily as an all Volunteer Fire Department since the Fire Department was established in 1914. Since that time the Fire Department has professionalized and grown to five full-time paid positions and 65 volunteer positions.

The Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation (Foundation) is a newly formed organization with a pending application seeking IRS 501(c) (3) tax exempt non-profit status. The Foundation will be governed by a five member board of directors living within the Fillmore Community. The Foundation's mission is to assist with providing community education of fire prevention and general public safety programs for the residents of Fillmore. The Foundation will also encourage and support community charitable outreach, such as the Annual Christmas Toy Drive and Chicken Dinner, inspecting and installing of smoke detectors and replacement of defective smoke detectors within Fillmore homes and conduct programs such as the Stop! Drop! and Roll! presentations within the Fillmore Unified School District schools. Another program that will be shared with the Fillmore Boy Scout Troop 406 will be to foster and encourage patriotism through the donations of United States of America Flags to our schools and assist in the proper disposal of retired United States of America Flags. Following the theme of patriotism the Foundation will participate in the existing grant program for the purchase of the Military Banners that are placed within the Fillmore Community recognizing those Fillmore Military Members that are currently serving.

Scott Beylik, Foundation Board President indicates the Foundation has an active agenda planned for the upcoming year. The Foundation will establish an Annual Honorary Member of the Foundation Dinner. There are plans ongoing for recognizing the Ten-Year Anniversary of the tragic events on September 11, 2001 occurring in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.. There will also be a 100-Year celebration of the establishment of the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department to be held in 2014 and planning for that celebration is in progress. In conjunction with that celebration there are two historic vehicles the Foundation would like to restore; a 1946 Ford Panel Fire vehicle and a 1953 GMC fire truck. Funding for the Foundation's goals will come from fund-raising, donations, and both public and private grants.

Not waiting around for their first project the Foundation on February 9, 2011 presented a 10' X 15' United States of America Flag to Mr. John Schweller, Principal of the Fillmore Middle School to replace the recently retired United States of America Flag which was previously hanging in the FMS gym.

Another program, “Mark Your Ride” sponsored by the Foundation along with the Fillmore Lions Club and the Fillmore Rotary Club will be held on Saturday April 23, 2011 and Saturday, April 30, 2011. On April 23rd “Mark Your Ride” will be held at the Fillmore Senior Apartments, 424 Santa Clara St. from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. On April 30th at the Fillmore Senior Center, 533 Santa Clara Ave from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Mark Your Ride is free to Fillmore Seniors. Mark Your Ride involves the installation of a collapsible fiberglass safety flag and stick-on safety lights to illuminate electric scooters or wheelchairs used by Seniors to allow for their safe mobility around the community.

If you are interested in the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Fighter's Foundation please contact Scott Beylik at 805-732-1101 or by email at tomatoman1969@yahoo.com.