Amador County – Amador County Supervisors approved a contract amendment for the second year of a three-year pact with California Department of Fire Protection, and will decide at a later date where to have a single station manned by Cal Fire in the county.
Amador Fire District Chief Jim McCart said he polled seven fire chiefs at Kirkwood, Lockwood, Amador Fire Protection District, Jackson, Sutter Creek, Ione and Jackson Valley, and the most votes (three) preferred staffing the Sutter Hill station. Two voted for the Dew Drop station, and two voted for no station. He thought “it was important to take the chiefs’ concerns into account.”
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse agreed, but said he would like to do it with more conversation. McCart said it benefits the county when you put it in Pine Grove, but it is pretty much keeping the engine in the up-country for 90 percent of the calls. He said medical aid accounts for 80 percent of our calls. Plasse pointed out that the poll included two fire departments, Ione and Jackson, which chose not to “participate in our consolidation efforts.”
McCart said it is an annual poll he has taken since 2003. He said “you do not have to decide today” as the end of fire season could be October or November this year. He said the Highway 88 corridor, between Jackson and Meadow Drive was the “largest area not to have 24-hour staffing,” and “it’s a high-volume area.”
Plasse said “that speaks to me to keep the Pine Grove station staffed.” Supervisors Brian Oneto said he would like to see the survey results.
Richard Forster said: “I think we need to talk about it face-to-face,” and Plasse said they should put it on the next AFPD agenda, though he must miss that meeting. McCart said it could be discussed in late July or early August.
CDF Assistant Chief Brian Kirk said “I think the board is on the right track,” and call volume and statistical weights need study. He said Cal Fire can work with the entities and show them a map of incidences, and “kind of see where the delivery of services might be most appropriate.”
Kirk said Cal Fire operated the Pine Grove station last year, but “97 percent of the time we staffed an engine there” in Sutter Creek. He said CDF has the discretion to provide fire services to the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians. If it did so, “funds have to come from the casino to the county to fund this contract.” He said the “budget contingency clause allows a quicker exit that normal,” the norm being 120 days.
Kirk said “if mitigation functions of Jackson Valley were initiated,” it would significantly change and shift staff toward the western part of the county. Then it would be best to staff the Pine Grove station.
Forster said “all of us here would like to have three stations open” but increasing costs become an issue.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
