Santa Clara County ends Cal Fire contract for rural communities

General Discussion
#42

It’s actually not quite wrapped up yet. I talked to the Fire Chief the other day, and he’s confident it’ll work out, but there’s some administrative steps still not completed. Trust me, everyone here is happy to consolidate the fire districts - it’s just an issue of who wants to pay for what, and what’s possible with the existing funding. This is actually relevant to wildland firefighting and this forum, in that the Peninsula Fire Department sends out strike teams to work fires, including for Pallisades, and getting paid to do so was a big part of Chester Fire’s funding.

The Chester Fire Department (so to speak) is also on both Plumas County and Chester Airport land, so that works into both CalFire and Forest Service considerations when it comes to fires being fought using airport grounds, and whether or not the Fire Department will even be involved (and I want them to be).

1 Like
#43

Retired Region Chief was hired by the CAO of Tulare County to do a feasibility study. RRRC hires his wife to do the typing. When the report was complete the BOS decided to cancel the contract. The Unit Chief Retired and was hired as the first Chief of the newly formed Tulare County Fire Departments.

4 Likes
#44

Yeah.

This is something that should be consolidated at the county level … but that would make too much sense. And I say that as a county employee.

2 Likes
#45

I’ve often wondered if a Cal Fire station or two in Plumas County (it’s over 100 miles between the Westwood CF station in Lassen County to the CF station at the Truckee airport on the Nevada and Placer County line. Lots of SRA in both Plumas & Sierra Counties in between.) might not only serve the public well in the protection of private lands but become a catalyst for the forward progress of fire protection in “The Lost Sierra”.

1 Like
#46

While there is lots of Private land in Sierra County. There is not any SRA. One of the few counties like that.

3 Likes
#47

I think the SRA in Plumas County & Sierra County is USFS Direct Protection but nonetheless State Responsibility Area. Exchange of protection areas via “ land balancing” some years ago, in my opinion, stifled the development of Cal Fires role in the part of the eastern Sierra.
When I look at the SRA Viewer I still see SRA in both these counties… of course I may be mistaken. I know there’s no SRA in Sutter County but I have thought Sutter was unique.

2 Likes
#48

There is lots of SRA in Sierra County. It is all traded away as Fed DPA, some on the east side is LRA because it is ag land similar to the valley.

3 Likes
#49

Traded or not per the current DPA map it’s all FRA with a lot of LRA. Having spent a portion of my career there in both sides of the County I’m very clear of the ins and outs.

2 Likes
#50

I think you mean the CalFire station in Susanville.

And yeah, something in Plumas, either Chester or Quincy, would make sense, they usually wind up staging out of here anyways, ground and air, and the Forest Service has perpetual staffing issues.

I wouldn’t mind seeing heavier tankers stationed here instead of SEATs, as well, but that’s a Forest Service decision. And a bit selfish on my part, because of fuel sales - the P-3s really used to burn a lot for the ten or fifteen years they were stationed here, and also made more of a visual impression to the public.

1 Like
#51

It is SRA with Fed DPA. Private land is never FRA and there is plenty of private in Sierra County.

How that affects everything is not clear to me. If “the big one” burns through here I think it gets apportioned based on SRA/FRA and DPA is not necessarily a factor after IA, correct me if I am wrong.

Capture.PNG
Capture.PNG1473×853 249 KB

4 Likes
#52

I think Susanville FFS is closer to Sierra County &
Eastern Plumas County, 2nd due after engine out of the Truckee Airport.
Westwood FFS closer to the rest of Plumas.
In both cases the ground attack is to too remote for the state mission or diminishes the mission in their 1st due area when staged for potential.

I’ve seen in many places in NorCal that CalFire presence can enhance fire protection / rescue without diminishing local or federal commitment.

Just my opinion but with so much challenge in rural California in the provision of fire / rescue the state directly protecting SRA is increasingly of importance and significance. The eastern sierra seems more than a bit short changed.

4 Likes
#53

Wow! Thanks for the info.

3 Likes
#54

Closer to 20.

1 Like
#55

Just curious why the stuff that went down in SoCal didn’t happen in NorCal? In Socal, when Sac implemented the ‘fire fee’ for those that lived in SRA under Fed DPA coverage, and the Feds said- We don’t do structure or local fire protection, the State ended up opening many news stations or converted local contract stations into State stations because the locals were VERY UPSET that they were paying for something they weren’t getting. I guess that memo never made it up to the State of Jefferson?

1 Like
#56

This isn’t entirely accurate on how and why the resumption of SRA protection by Cal Fire occurred, but regardless the end result did add additional stations and resources in Northern California, specifically around the Tahoe Basin.

1 Like
#57

The Tahoe Basin has great value in so many ways that both the internal (CF) and external (Stake Holder) allocations of power were readily available to improve CF ground attack. IMO - This was especially true in post Angora Fire period.

East of the Sierra and north of Tahoe there is more than a bit of both “out of sight, out of mind” this stifles improvement in some rural NorCal counties.

The evolution of CF has been ongoing, planned or otherwise since the State concerned itself with forestry and later fire and more recently “All Risk” …

More change will come, again my opinion, not just to improved coverage by CF in the North and East but very likely changes to Contracts for services both County Contracts and Contract Counties.

4 Likes
#58

As said earlier, the 66hr. workweek will change the calculus on costs. Cal Fire will no longer be the “cheapest” fire protection, but, still the best!

4 Likes
#59

The Angora Fire is what caused the GAO and Congress to reassess what the FS was protecting.

Balance of acres is supposed to be “like for like, cost for cost”
It was discovered that what the Feds were protecting was Valued in the billions of dollars compared to what the state was protecting was in the millions of dollars.

AEU, BDU, RRU, SHU all gained land and stations. As the price of real-estate in California raises, additional rebranding will occur.

4 Likes
#60

SCCFD got a page up FAQ

1 Like
#61

Alternative Service Delivery Pacheco Pass/Casa De Fruita Area:

  1. Rent hotel rooms at Casa De Fruta Inn for crew accommodation and a secure place to
    park the fire engine

:rofl:

Buried in their proposal to LafCo is that this move will cost them an extra $4.7 million on a current budget of $11.5 million. Their solution is to create a special service zone for south county and recoup the money through additional taxes on the property owners.

7 Likes