Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association Keeping the Tradition Alive
Sonoma will once again host the wonderful, traditional Fourth of July events that have brought joy to our Valley for decades. Jason Campbell, Battalion Chief, is excited to be in charge as once again the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association brings the Fourth of July Celebration to our Valley. This year’s event honors our nation’s 250th anniversary and the strong small-town traditions that define Sonoma Valley.
Campbell told the Sun this is the ninth year that the Volunteer Firefighters have been in charge of running the event. The Sonoma Community Center was formerly responsible. When that organization looked for another nonprofit community organization to put it on, the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association stepped up. The organization was already doing the fireworks and, as Campbell explained, “a fire department trains to run large events.” He elaborated that their internal structure, the incident command system, makes them prepared to take this on. He also affirmed, “No one regrets taking it over.”
In addition to the parade, the celebration includes a festival, live music and entertainment, family activities, and the keystone event, the fireworks show. The firefighters particularly underscore that the whole event, and especially the fireworks show that begins at dusk, helps keep illegal fireworks out of the Valley neighborhoods…