North Bay fire victims to get bikes collected by firefighters

Along with their homes, many kids and adults lost their beloved bicycles to the North Bay fires.

Firefighters in Marin County found that unacceptable.

They put out a call for donations of new and used bikes, and they collected nearly 900.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, Marin firefighters will give those bikes to people whose homes were burned.

Bret McTigue, a battalion chief with the Marin County Fire Department, said most of the free bicycles are for children, but there also are some for adults.

People who request a bike will be asked to provide verification that they lost their home or lived in one of the areas that was badly burned. The firefighters will have the CalFire list of addresses of destroyed homes.

With so many people having lost their residences, McTigue said, firefighters want to be certain the bicycles go to fire victims.

People from around the Bay Area and well beyond responded to a call for bicycles or for money for the purchase of bicycles and helmets.

The collection drive was undertaken by firefighters who work for either the Marin County Fire Department or the Southern Marin Fire Department and are affiliated with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1775.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is at 2796 Ventura Ave. in Santa Rosa.

You can reach Staff Writer Chris Smith at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com