Firefighting resources could be in danger from statewide budget cuts

Although demand for services is growing, the Ventura County Fire Department will lose money if the state budget slashes cash from local coffers.

The department, managed by Ventura County Fire District, serves six cities and all of the unincorporated areas in the county. It employs 579 people, including 471 firefighters who responded to an average of 90 calls for service per day in 2008.

"We're very optimistic that we're going to continue providing services as we have. But we're also looking at opportunities to cut the budget where we can to be able to deal with the future years that may be leaner," said Dep. Fire Chief Kevin Nestor.

The department is primarily funded through property taxes and a contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) that provides an average of $9 million per year to support local operations.

If the state exercises its option to borrow funds from local governments, the department could lose $8 million this year, according to Nestor.

In addition to handling fires, floods, earthquakes, medical emergencies and car accidents within Ventura County, local firefighters and paramedics participate in the statewide mutual aid system—assisting other jurisdictions and receiving help when big fires and emergencies occur.

Chris Mahon, president of the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association, said diminishing resources affecting other agencies in the state could impede firefighting capabilities here during the height of the fire season.

"The system is absolutely dependent on other agencies providing those resources in the system," he said, noting some municipalities in California may be forced to reduce their firefighting resources due to budget cuts.

"As we lose resources through budget cuts, we may lose some of our ability to protect homes," Mahon said.

About 400 fire engines from throughout California were deployed to the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara this spring.

Firefighters are concerned that resources may be stretched too thin if multiple blazes flame out of control simultaneously later this year and in the future.

"Protecting the home front and sending engines out at the same time will be a problem," Mahon said.

Recognizing that problems exist, Mahon said the union is working with the department to determine what cuts can be made without reducing fire protection services.

Mutual aid agreements are instrumental in dealing with surge capacity needs, said Bill Nash, spokesperson for the fire department.

"No single agency has enough firefighters to handle major incidents," he said.

The fire district requested $136.4 million from the county to support operations in the 2009-10 fiscal year. Ventura County supervisors, who also serve as directors of the Ventura County Fire District, approved the request June 16.

Future budget impacts caused by reduced property taxes and Cal Fire funding, the potential loss of 2004's Proposition 1A funds and increasing operational and retirement costs might affect local resources over time, said Fire Chief Bob Roper in a report addressed to Ventura County supervisors.

Since the department's mission hasn't changed, it will strive to maintain local "battle stations" and continue to contribute to the external mutual aid system, Roper said.

"Reducing services is the last resort."

Based on projected population growth, the local fire agency was making plans to construct several new fire stations and augment staffing, but those plans can't be implemented without a reliable budget, Nash said.

The district cannot request additional funds because there are no sources from which to draw additional funds, except those already mentioned, he said.

"If more funds were needed, the only viable option would be to create a benefit assessment district, but that would require a majority vote from supervisors," Nash said.