New Mi-Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Chief

Mi-Wuk Village, CA — The interim Fire Chief takes the position full time. The Board of Directors of the Mi-Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection hired Larry Crabtree to fill the vacant Fire Chief position at their board meeting this week. That post was opened after Chief Randy Miller resigned in May of 2013 amid an investigation into a complaint. Crabtree says his top priorities are to get more staff, volunteers and new resources.

“The newest fire engine in our fleet is 26 years old. We are leasing one from Tuolumne County for a nominal fee, but it’s not our engine and it was made in 1996. So even with that one, we are going to be in dire need of a newer one,” said Crabtree. The new fire chief is looking into used engines to try to keep the price down.

Crabtree has over 33 years of experience in fire service. He served as a volunteer firefighter for a variety of departments beginning with the Upper Lake Volunteer Fire Department in 1970, and ending with his retirement from Cal Fire in 2006.

“Chief Crabtree is exactly what our community needs in a fire chief at this time.” said Board President Chuck Wagner. “The skill set that he brings to the job is already bearing fruit as we all witnessed with the community meetings in Mi Wuk Village during the Rim Fire. There are more good things to come.”

Crabtree has signed a five year agreement with a beginning salary of $42,000 and the last year of the contract paying $52,000.