Senior Project raising funds for fire apparatus room at Bret Harte

Seniors Blake Cuevas and Dominic Celilio, friends since 6th grade, have paired up to raise funds for a common interest...fire fighting.

The program is a multi-year project "expected to take five years to complete" said Celilio, who is concurrently enrolled as a student at the Calaveras County Fire Academy and a cadet with CFPD. With the goal to raise a minimum of $15,000 per year through various fund raisers and presentations to fire districts and community groups. The end product of all the fund raising will be the construction of an apparatus room at Bret Harte to house the fire engine and all the gear for the ROP fire tech program. Currently the equipment is stored in a modular classroom and the larger equipment is subjected to the elements and possible vandalism.

According to Dominic's father Tom Celilio, part of the project required that plans be drawn up and submitted for the structure. It was at this point Dominic needed a little help from his dad, an  electrician by trade and volunteer fire fighter.

Both seniors, residents of Copperopolis, are mentored by Chief Kovacs of Murphys Fire Department who has guided them through the program planning. Chief Kovacs, a well known fire program mentor, is very supportive of the senior's huge undertaking. He said the boys created a plan to present to him as a mentor and he helped them hammer out the logistics and organizational needs of the large multi-year project.

Blake and Dominic are both enrolled in the advanced fire tech program at Bret Harte with instructor Chief Rosebrook, and Dominic is a teachers aide for the beginning fire tech class. Enlisting the aid of fellow fire tech friends Wyatt Kitchel and Cody Anderson, the boys first fund raiser was a 'fill the boot' at the Copperopolis Chili Cook-off.

The boys will be making their first presentation in the next few weeks to a fire district. Celilio is a bit nervous.

If you would like more information on the project, how you can help, or to schedule a presentation to your community group please contact Dominic Celilio at  dominicakadc@hotmail.com.

Update:
If you would like to donate to this project, please make your check payable to Murphy's Fire with BH senior project in the memo line and mail to:
Murphys Fire
37 Jones Street
P.O. Box 1013
Murphys, CA 95247

Thank you!