It was a relatively quiet weekend for the Fourth of July, while
there was a small fire Friday on Park Hill that burned two to three
acres but damaged no structures. Aside from intermittent streams of
bikers coming and going throughout the holiday weekend, there
wasn’t the commotion of years past, not even so much as 2009 when
the Gypsy Tour Motorcycle Classic was held after the cancellation
of the downtown biker rally.
It was a relatively quiet weekend for the Fourth of July, while there was a small fire Friday on Park Hill that burned two to three acres but damaged no structures.
Aside from intermittent streams of bikers coming and going throughout the holiday weekend, there wasn’t the commotion of years past, not even so much as 2009 when the Gypsy Tour Motorcycle Classic was held after the cancellation of the downtown biker rally.
Even with the Fourth of July festivities and many residents shooting off fireworks, there wasn’t a lot of activity for the fire department. The fire on Park Hill started around 7:45 p.m. The grass fire with an unknown cause burned more than two acres, but was extinguished by crews with two city engines along with mutual aid from a Calfire unit. Crews were on scene for about two hours, and no structures were threatened, said Hollister Fire Chief Fred Cheshire.
The fire department had just one patrol out this year looking out for illegal fireworks. It was down from the usual, and Cheshire cited a lack of staffing in the same week council members are expected to adopt a budget that would call for layoffs and a 12.5 percent cut to the general fund. Though Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless is out this week, Cheshire said he had estimated collecting about two garbage bags filled with the illegal fireworks.
Both the police department and sheriff’s office reported quiet weekends as well. Sheriff’s Lt. Roy Iler noted how there was not a single call for service, while it was “quiet” at the car and bike show at Bolado Park. Police Sgt. David Westrick said there were “very few” incidents. He said the police department plans to send out a press release with numbers.
