Report: Fixes, kudos for fire protection agencies
SANTA CRUZ >> A new comprehensive study of the 13 agencies providing fire protection services throughout Santa Cruz County is urging some changes to local firefighting practices.
The Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt the “Countywide Service and Sphere Review for Fire Protection Services” report and its numerous recommendations. Among the report’s findings, the commission approved affirming operations of four of the agencies — Santa Cruz and Watsonville city fire departments, Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County and Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection District — and to direct seven additional fire districts to coordinate by August with LAFCO related to their future service areas and potential consolidation. One small Santa Cruz County-run district also is recommended to be merged with its sister district.
Countywide, protection is provided out of 36 separate fire stations. LAFCO Executive Officer Joe Serrano told the commission Wednesday that part of the report’s impetus was to stir discussion around potential collaborative fire agency reorganization and consolidation.
“While the majority of the agencies are doing well, staff has determined and identified areas of improvement for each one,” Serrano said. “It would benefit the agencies and more importantly, their constituents, if the boards and staff strongly consider staff’s suggestions.”
The commission voted to follow the report’s recommendation to have district leaders from several agencies meet with the agency regarding updates to jurisdictional boundaries by August and for follow-through on suggested changes by October 2022.
Report findings
Among those agencies, Branciforte Fire Protection District, formed in 1950, serves about 1,700 people within 9 square miles out of one fire station. According to the report, Branciforte Fire has the lowest accreditation rating of fire agencies in the county. The agency has an “ISO” score of 5 — with 1 being the highest and 10 the lowest — a ranking provided to fire departments and insurance companies by the Insurance Services Office to determine the community’s fire readiness.
Branciforte Fire recently ended a six-year contract outsourcing agency operations to Scotts Valley Fire Protection District.
Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek and Zayante fire protection districts do not meet state or national standards when it comes to firefighters on duty, Serrano said.
Watsonville Fire Department, serving about 54,000 people within 6 square miles, has the fastest average response time in the county, at four minutes.
Central Fire Protection District, formed in 2021 as a consolidation between the former Central Fire and Aptos/La Selva fire protection districts, serves about 90,000 people within 55 square miles from seven fire stations. The agency, Serrano said, shares the highest ISO rating in the county, as
a Class 2, with Santa Cruz and Watsonville city fire departments and Scotts Valley Fire Protection District.
Operated by the County of Santa Cruz, County Service Area 4 in the Pajaro Dunes was formed in 1966 and serves about 250 people in less than half a square mile from one fire station. The district’s staffing levels meet state but not national standards. The study recommends dissolving the district and merging it with County Service Area 48.
County-run County Service Area 48 was formed in 1966 and serves about 24,000 people in 216 square miles from 10 fire stations. The district’s staffing levels also meet state but not national standards. The district has the most number of fire vehicles in the county, at 29, but the slowest average response time, at 14 minutes.
Operations for both CSA agencies are contracted through Cal Fire.
Despite its ISO rating, Santa Cruz Fire is not considered financially stable, according to Serrano. The department, serving around 68,000 people within 12 square miles, has ended the past six fiscal years with a deficit. Average annual expenses come to $20 million, while its revenue is only $4 million, Serrano said. The city’s general fund covers the difference.