Arcata Honored Firefighters and First Responders With Noon Parade Around the Plaza Yesterday

Everybody loves a parade and Arcata citizens turned out in large numbers to enjoy the sunshine and honor their first responders yesterday. [Video by Ryan Hutson]

A parade honoring the first responders who worked the devastating January 2 fire in Arcata rolled through downtown at noon Sunday, drawing a large crowd to the Arcata Plaza.

Fire engines, patrol vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency response units made one to two laps around the plaza as onlookers waved signs and cheered. A festive atmosphere was made more festive with the Marching Lumberjack band.

The event had been announced as a community thank-you for the local first responders who assisted with the fire earlier this month, which destroyed multiple businesses and apartments.

As vehicles passed in the rare February sunshine, spectators applauded and children reacted excitedly to the fire engines and equipment on display.

Agencies visible in the parade included Arcata Fire, Loleta Fire, Rio Dell Fire, Mad River–Arcata Ambulance, PG&E, the California Highway Patrol, and the American Red Cross, among others.

After the event, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department shared a photo of Billy Honsal with therapy dogs at the parade, writing, “What a great turnout today for Arcata Fire’s heroes parade. We loved seeing the community show up to honor our heroes as well as support those that lost their homes and businesses. And a special thank you to the therapy dogs that stopped and gave the sheriff some love.”

As the parade concluded, the lumberjack band played in the plaza while families lingered in the sunshine, turning the thank-you event into a broader community gathering on a clear Sunday afternoon.

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