Volunteers serve the community in Bombay Beach

BOMBAY BEACH, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Here in Bombay Beach, this firehouse has been out of commission since March. 

Without support from the County, a group of volunteers has come together to ensure the safety of their community.

Volunteers from Bombay Beach have banded together to form a community fire department after the death of longtime Bombay Beach Fire Chief Louie Knight back in March.

After Knight's death, Bombay Beach's firehouse was essentially abandoned, needing serious restoration to keep the facility intact.

“We are trying to create something that’s positive here in town, said Bombay Beach Fire Department Volunteer Thomas Rhodes. "But without the county’s assistance, and being partnered up, it’s uh… It’s going to take a lot longer to be able to take care of this town.”

Community members have tried to raise $25,000 to help with the restoration. 

They were able to raise over $14,000 as a result of their annual Harvest Festival back in November.

Citizens of Bombay Beach say response times for incidents in the area take longer due to where they live.

“It could take up to thirty to forty minutes," said fellow volunteer Dixie Tanori-Jones. "If we were to have this emergency response unit established already we could’ve probably been there sooner.”

Director Candace Youngberg hopes locals are willing to contribute more time to their community.

"We'll pay for the training," said Youngberg. "We'll pay for everything if they sign that two-year agreement. That they'll devote two years of their service here at our fire station."

"Joining in the trainings... As they happen now... So that regardless I can be ready," said Paedrin Fusco, Bombay Beach Community Services.

Rhodes also said that funds generated from the Harvest Festival will be used to renovate the community center as well.