Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Firefighter/engineer Daniel Williams checks the rain gauge at the Shannon Fire Station.

Shannon Fire Station recognized

National Weather Service acknowledges 50-year relationship

By Shari Kaplan

In recognition of 50 years of weather observation and recording for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service presented the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District with an award May 15 at the district's Shannon Fire Station. Fire Chief Douglas Sporleder was on hand to accept the award.

Firefighter/engineer Dan Williams, the lead weather reporting person for the past 35 years, also received a service award from weather service officials Dan Klinger and Charles Morrill.

The National Weather Service is part of NOAA, which in turn is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"Mr. Williams and the staff of the fire station have never been known to miss a deadline or single day of taking the weather readings," Klinger said. "The data is always sent in on time and is reliable and accurate. It takes initiative on the part of the observer to keep it going."

Up until about eight years ago, Williams' duties included dipping a ruler-like device into a rain gauge to measure precipitation and checking two thermometers in a weatherbox--a mercury one that indicated the daily high and an alcohol thermometer with a steel rod inside that indicated the low.

He still checks the same rain gauge, although the thermometers are gone, replaced by a "weatherhead" outside the station. This device keeps constant track of the temperature and feeds the data into a small, digital device located inside the station. Williams or other firefighters write down the daily high and low in a small log, noting how much precipitation fell, what form it took and how windy it was.

Williams compiles the statistics on a monthly form he sends to the weather service's National Climatic Data Center, which publishes the information in a climatological data report for the area.

"It kind of gives you responsibility because you know you have to get this report off every month. Or if you're not there, you have to make sure someone else does it," Williams said of his longtime duty. "It's nice to be recognized for a job you do, even if it seems trivial to some people."

The Shannon Fire Station is part of the Cooperative Observers Climatological Network, which was created in 1890. It is administered by the National Weather Service, whose mission includes compiling meteorological observations used to record the climate of the United States. The weather service has come to rely on its network of volunteer weather observers, including fire stations, ranger stations and private individuals.