Heroic deeds recognized by council

No one could predict that a bus carrying more than three dozen tourists would overturn on country road in Colusa County, killing nine and injuring 32 others.

But when the emergency call toned out at 6:11 p.m. the night of Oct. 5, more than half the Williams volunteer fire department and nearly half the police force would respond to the scene to provide rescue services, care for the injured and secure the scene.

It was a heroic effort that received the recognition of city officials during a brief ceremony last week at the Williams fire station.

Williams Mayor Patricia Ash presented a proclamation to Williams Fire Chief Jeff Gilbert and Police Chief Jim Saso, honoring all the firefighters and police officers for the extraordinary sacrifices they made during the incident.

“At all hours of the day and night, the Williams Fire Department and the Williams Police Department willingly respond to emergency calls of many different natures and have devoted countless hours of training,” Ash said.

Ash, whose grandfather, Garland “POP” Bashore, was the last Williams policeman to go about his appointed rounds on horseback, says she understands the dedication volunteers have to the community.

She has four generations who have served as volunteers for the Williams fire department.

“As a woman, I am very proud to carry the torch for my family by being asked to serve as a fire commissioner,” she said. “The word volunteer is a very important word to emphasize here, but I think the fire trucks say it best by saying ‘professionally staffed by  volunteers.’”

The bus, which carried 42 passengers from Sacramento to Colusa Casino Resort, overturned south of Highway 20 between Colusa and Williams at Lone Star and Abel roads, said California Highway Patrol.

A witness at the scene told CHP the bus, traveling north on Lone Star, lost control, flipped into the air, cart wheeled and landed in a ditch.

The first fire truck from the Williams Fire Department arrived with in 10 minutes of the call. A total of 21 firefighters from Williams responded.

Williams Fire Chief Jeff Gilbert, served as incident command over 142 total personnel, 53 pieces of apparatus, 11 helicopters, 24  ambulances and 20 different emergency response agencies.

Four offices from Williams Police Department responded to assist.

“The incident was handled in an incredibly professional manner,” Ash said.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.