Issue date: January 06, 1999
By MARION SOFTKY
The Menlo Park Fire Protection District is approaching the new century with a new chief and fire board chairman, a strong record of accomplishment, new challenges in emergency response and fire prevention, and some unfinished business.
Doug Merrill of Atherton is the new chairman of the five-member board of directors, replacing E. Erwin "Erv" Ericksen, who served in that post for seven years. Mr. Ericksen will remain on the board of the district, which covers a 29-square-mile area, including Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto and unincorporated areas.
Mr. Merrill, who became chairman in December, will be working closely with Fire Chief Miles Julihn, who came to the district in November to replace retired Fire Chief Rick Tye.
"We want to review existing operations and look at where the money's being spent," said Mr. Merrill.
A 12-year member of the fire board, Mr. Merrill is a chemist and manager at the Kelly-Moore Paint Co. in San Carlos.
He is taking over at a time when the district is regrouping after several years of major accomplishments. It has rebuilt and earthquake-proofed six fire stations and built a brand new seventh station in Belle Haven. It runs one of 25 urban search and rescue teams in the country, has updated equipment and bought two new fire engines, provided trained paramedics on every fire call, and negotiated to run an ambulance under the county's new ambulance contract.
Running an ambulance staffed by its own paramedics achieves a long-term goal the district has pursued for years. Stationed at the headquarters station on Middlefield Road, the new ambulance began carrying patients last week under the new master county ambulance contract with AMR.
"We're on a plateau where we can catch our breath," said Mr. Merrill. "We'll work on getting organized for the future. We want to concentrate on fire prevention."
The district's unfinished business concerns former Fire Chief Rick Tye,, who went on medical disability in mid-1996, took a job at Texas A&M, and requested disability retirement. Mr. Merrill hopes to get the necessary information soon so the district can clear up the case and move on.
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