In a special swearing in ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 8, the members of the Escalon Consolidated Fire Protection District Board were installed for 2023. They include Joe Camara, Zach Hogan, Jason Koops, Billy Mekelburg and Mickey Schilber.

The brief installation ceremony was hosted at the firehouse on Coley Avenue and included the selection of officers for the year as well.

Officers for 2023 will be Joe Camara, Chair; Billy Mekelburg, Vice Chair; Mickey Schilber, Secretary. Camara and Schilber are longtime directors on the fire board, while Hogan, Koops and Mekelburg are fairly new to the panel.

“Jason Koops and Billy Mekelburg were appointed and the other three were via election, although they were unopposed,” said Escalon Fire Chief Rick Mello. “The appointments occurred over the course of a few months with the resignations of Directors Mark Paulsen and Terry Pinheiro.”

Mekelburg was appointed this summer to fill out Paulsen’s term and Koops was appointed after Pinheiro resigned in September.

“Zach ran for the first time and has a four-year term,” Mello added, with board member Laura Catrina not seeking reelection.

Schilber has served on the panel since 1990; Camara since 2008.

“Mickey and Joe coming back brings experience and stability to the board,” noted Mello. “Billy, Jason and Zach are all successful businessmen with a wide range of knowledge and experience. Jason also has served as a volunteer firefighter in the past.”

The board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m., usually at 1531 Second St., at the Hogan building west of the Coley Avenue fire station.

Mello said having the directors in place and ready to go for 2023 will help keep the department moving in the right direction. Responsibilities of the board are to provide oversight, have the final say in the district’s finances and provide support to the fire chief.