A local fire district skipped the bake sale and went right to property owners for high-tech safety equipment.

Instead of raising funds with traditional sales, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District affiliates mailed letters asking for donations. Much of the $52,000 raised came from a letter campaign to 10,000 property owners.

People from all over California with land in the district responded to the letters. The surprise was that property owners from as far away as Guam, Colorado, Florida and even Saudi Arabia also chipped in, said Tim Fike, Nevada County Consolidated District chief.

"A check for $10 was received from a Nevada County landowner in Saudi Arabia," he said.

Firefighters were surprised by the tremendous response to their plea for donations to buy heat-imaging cameras, said Fike. Property owners and fire district organizations contributed over $52,000, he said.

Last week, the district bought three "Forward Looking Infrared Cameras." The cameras, fireproof and heat sensitive, allow firefighters to see through smoke and darkness to find victims in a burning building, such as children hiding under beds.

The helmet-mounted cameras cost $18,500 each, said Fike, who originally hoped he could raise enough for one camera.

After negotiating with manufacturers about costs, Fike was able to buy two helmet-mounted cameras and one hand-held version with the donated money.

The helmet-mounted cameras are from Marconi Industries' San Diego distributor. The hand-held cost $9,970 and is from FLIR Systems, a Portland, Ore., company, said Fike.

The fund-raising campaign cost nearly $4,000 including postage, leaving a little over $2,000 for possible future projects, he said.

The letters were sent out by several organizations in the district, including the Watt Park Ladies Auxiliary, Gold Flat Fire District and Ladies Auxiliary, Nevada County Firefighters Association/Old Bullion Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary.

The Gold Flat group was able to kick in $20,000 of its own funds for the equipment, Fike said. The Nevada County Firefighters group came up with $4,500, he said. The district's paid firefighters also came up with $300 through their union.

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