The Sacramento Fire Buff Club canteen service was created in 1994 when the club members decided to give something back to the community by finding a way to assist the firefighters of the Sacramento County Fire Protection District. It was originally funded with money from the club plus a donation of $1500 from the Sacramento County FPD.

The first vehicle developed for canteen service (Canteen 1) was a 1973 Dodge one- ton pickup with a utility body. One of the club members did some necessary body work and the paint job. This Canteen was housed at our headquarters location at 6531 26th Street, Rio Linda. Our second vehicle (original Canteen 2) was built-up from a 1972 Dodge U-Haul van. The interior was replaced with cabinets. This Canteen was housed at Sacramento Metropolitan FD Station 62 on Bradshaw Road. When this vehicle was no longer reliable, it was replaced with a former OES mobile repeater station. This was a 1965 Ford one-ton pickup with a utility body and an Alaskan pop-up camper. This unit was replaced in 2002 by a 1990 Chevrolet Astro Van. Also in 2002, Canteen 1 was replaced by the former Air supply unit used by the Rio Linda VFD. In 2005, Metro Fire donated a 1999 Ford/Wheeled Coach diesel powered former medic unit to the Club for use as Canteen 1.

Currently, the North area canteen is now housed at Sacramento Metro FD Station 112 on Elkhorn Blvd. The South area canteen is still housed at Sacramento Metro FD Station 62 on Bradshaw Rd.

The idea for the relief stations was derived from the ones used by Cal-Trans road cleanup crews. We had also noticed the number of female firefighters on scene at many fires. We knew they could not go behind a bush to relieve themselves as the male firefighters can do. We received a donation from the firefighter's associations for $1200 and bought a new porta-potty. We had the trailer, so the match was made. The second unit was built from a porta-potty donated by Folsom Lake State Park when they replaced a number of their facilities.

We currently respond anywhere in the region with the approval of the Sacramento Metro FD Duty Chief. We have assisted DART in Yolo County. We have gone into Placer County on grass fires. One of our relief stations was used at the scene of a large traffic accident on I-5 in southern Sacramento County for about two days. Our relief station have also been used when plumbing problems have closed the restrooms in some fire stations.

We receive financial support from the Fire Buff club. A separate checking account for the canteens has been set up. In the past, we have received a yearly donation of $500 from each of the Sacramento County FPD firefighter associations. In 1999 we did receive a retainer of $500 from the Board of the American River FPD. In 2005, canteen support was added to the payroll deduction system of the Metro firefighters and employees. This money will provide a constant income for the canteens.

The SFBC canteen committee takes care of the maintenance of the vehicles, fuel, insurance, license for the relief stations,(both canteen vehicles are exempt plated), and consumable supplies.

On December 1, 2000 the Sacramento County FPD and the American River FPD merged into the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

The Canteens are dispatched at the discretion of the Incident Commander. He notifies County Fire Dispatch that he would like our services. The two Canteen team leaders, one north and one south, each have pagers. Dispatch calls both of these pagers. The team leaders call Dispatch back and find where they are needed. Usually both units will respond to an incident, with the second unit available to respond to any other incidents.

When the canteen arrives at the scene of an incident, the crew reports to the Incident Commander. He will usually have us set up as close to the incident as possible.

We first set up our table, then we open the relief station. If it is a daytime incident, the crew usually has at least 20 bottles of cold water available. Bottled Gatorade is also available. We also set out one coffee airpot with cups along with granola or power bars and the condiments for the coffee. To keep the area clean, plastic garbage cans are set out. If it is a night operation, three coffee airpots are put out along with one case of water. The crew stays in the area of the table to assist the firefighters. A run report is submitted for each incident.

Each of the canteens has a radio set to Dispatch Channel 1 (154.190) and an 800 MgHertz scanner. We also carry cellular phones and short range portable radios that are good up to about one mile to talk between units and canteen personnel on scene.

Each unit carries the following equipment: