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Mather Field was
established as an airfield and pilot training school in 1918. The base was
named for Carl Mather, a WWI test pilot. Between the World Wars, the base
was used intermittently to support small military units. During WWII, Mather
Field was used for pilot, navigator, observer, and bombardier training.
Unfortunately, very little information was available, so the actual date of
formation for the Fire Department is unclear. Eventually, fire department
personnel became the Fire Protection Branch of the 323rd Civil Engineering
Squadron.
The last official Fire
Chief at Mather Air Force Base was Master Sergeant Lance McCasland. He
served in this capacity from July 1993 until September 30, 1993. He assumed
command from Fire Chief Ernie Brooker, who served from 1984 until 1993.
Unlike McClellan AFB Fire Department, Airmen Firefighters were assigned to
the department in the early 1950’s along with the civil service
firefighters. As many as 24 to 30 firefighters were on duty at one time.
Several fire prevention personnel were also assigned to the Department.
Mather AFB Fire
Department served an area of over 2,500 acres. The base included wildland, a
lake, single family housing units, multiple unit housing for navigator
students, dormitories, retail stores (base exchange and commissary), a
hospital, a theater, office buildings, several large hangars, and two
runways. Many different types of aircraft needed protection, including
B52’s, KC-135’s, T-43’s, and T-37’s. There was, and still is, a California
Air National Guard helicopter unit at Mather. Training was quite extensive
and included procedures for landing the Space Shuttle. Because of its long
runway, Mather AFB was one of the west coast back-up landing sites.
Once again, information
is very limited, but several major incidents occurred at Mather AFB. In the
early 1950’s, a B-25 crashed claiming the life of Airman 1st Class Donald G.
Denker. The base recreation hall (Denker Hall) was later named for this
airman. Over the years, several major grass fires have involved base
property. At some point in history, the base gym caught fire and sustained
major damage. The most notable incident was the B-52 crash in 1982. Even
though the crash occurred off-base (Jackson Hwy and Mayhew Rd), Mather AFB
Fire Department responded with multiple units from Rancho Cordova and Florin
Fire Districts. Nine crewmembers lost their lives.
Mather AFB Fire
Department had two fire stations. Station One had a total of seven bays.
Four faced the flight line for the “crash” trucks and three bays faced west
for responses to the rest of the base. These responses included structures,
auto accidents, grass fires, auto fires, and some medical emergencies. When
the P-15’s were obtained by the Air Force, a large, drive through, two-bay
addition was built to house the huge apparatus. Station Two was in the
housing area south of the runway. It was a smaller two-bay station. One
engine company and a small grass unit were assigned to Station Two. Mather
AFB Fire Department saw the usual variety of standard Air Force issued fire
apparatus. Everything from pick-up trucks to Ward LaFrance structure
engines, P-8’s, water tenders, P-2’s, P-4’s, P-15’s, and a 2,500 gallon
“runway foam trailer” that also had 200 gallons of foam concentrate on
board. In 1979, Mather AFB Fire Department hosted a large training burn
using several single story, wood construction office buildings. Most of the
area fire districts participated, including Rancho Cordova, Florin, Folsom,
and Citrus Heights.
In April 1993, the last
of the aircraft assigned to Mather AFB departed for reassignment. All civil
service firefighters were transferred to other bases or retired. A crew of
24 “G.I.” firefighters assigned to two shifts provided protection for the
base until September 30, 1993. Chief McCasland met with Assistant Chief Mark
Meaker from Sacramento County Fire District at base headquarters that day
and turned over responsibility for the base. There was, however, a
transition that involved McClellan AFB Fire Department. When the base
closed, the hospital stayed open with its administration moving to McClellan
AFB. One engine company was assigned from McClellan AFB to Mather AFB to
provide first responder protection for the hospital. An agreement with
Sacramento County Fire Protection District provided the balance of an
assignment to the hospital. This coverage lasted approximately six months
and then Sacramento County Fire Protection District had sole responsibility.
Written by Engineer Fred
Phelps |
