TranslateHistory of the Consolidation Agencies
This report was presented during a Public Hearing at a Regular Commissions Meeting on February 6, 2019
Rincon Valley Fire Protection District
The Rincon Valley Fire Protection District has been serving its communities for 70 years. As our 70th anniversary comes to an end we acknowledge our current and past Fire Chiefs, Firefighters, Volunteers, Office Personnel, Board of Directors of Rincon Valley, Larkfield, Alpine and Bellevue for their dedicated service to our communities.
The Fire District was formed in 1948. The community of Larkfield joined the Fire District in 1964. The Community of Alpine joined the Fire District in 1974. The west side of Santa Rosa joined the District in 1986. The Sonoma County Airport joined the District in 1986. The Bellevue Fire Department joined the District in 1993.
Mountain Volunteer Fire Department
The Mountain Volunteer Fire Department started because of the Hanley/Nuns Canyon fires of 1964. These fires devastated the areas from Mt. St. Helena all the way to Santa Rosa. The department was formed in 1968 equally as a fire department and a social organization. At that time the district designated to be served was a remote community. The property and building housing the equipment was purchased in 1974.
The 1964 Hanley-Nuns Canyon Fire (locals simply refer to it as the Hanley Fire) had a huge impact on our area. It burned from Mt. St. Helena all the way to Santa Rosa. After this legendary fire, locals realized there was a need to be able to respond to wildland fires quickly and so they formed the Mountain Volunteer Fire Department in 1968.
Bennett Valley Fire Protection District
There was a meeting on June 10, 1948, at the Bennett Valley Grange Hall, to discuss forming a Volunteer Fire Department. In attendance were 60 community members who held a vote by show of hands and the “majority were in favor”. The Bennett Valley Volunteer Fire Department was created, and positions were elected. Members attended “training” by the “State Forestry Fire Department.
The first piece of apparatus was purchased from a Army Surplus on July 12th, 1948, It was a 1942 International Truck with a 200 gallon water tank, Chemical tanks, power take off and “other desirable features” for $1,700. this was all paid for by donations from the Bennett Valley Grange hall and other community members and organizations. Nozzles, Sirens, and equipment was purchased from Cam manufacturing company.
Over the next few years, a Board of Directors was elected, Equipment was purchased, the Department went into contract with the county where they received $700 a year for response in a 5-mile radius.
In the 1960s a new station was constructed at the current location on Bennett Valley Road by volunteers.
During the 1980’s paid staff were introduced to the District.
On June 2, 1997 BVFPD began the process of forming a JPA with Gold Ridge Fire Protection District. This contract would provide shared administrative staff, joint purchasing, and the formation of an internship program.
In 2002, residents voted to approve a parcel tax that would pay for career firefighters. This transitioned the department from a mostly all volunteer to a mix of volunteer and paid staff.
In 2015 the Bennett Valley Board of Directors passed the addition of 3 full time fire fighters with 3 part-time fire fighters bringing the staffing levels to 3 full time Lieutenants, 3 full time fire fighters, 3 part-time fire fighters, and 3 sleepers. The Board of Directors also signed into contract a MOU between with the full-time staff.
Windsor Fire Protection District
The Windsor Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) began operation on June 1, 1965, in an old blacksmith’s shop, with 11 volunteers and one fire engine: a 1954 open-cab Dodge pumper with a 500-gallon tank, purchased for $286. A second engine, a 1946 Chevrolet with a 900- gallon tank, was added shortly thereafter, followed by a 1955 International 1800-gallon water tender in 1968.
The department was funded solely by donations and funds raised at the annual Firemen’s pancake breakfast. An important early donation was the land at 444 Windsor River Road, where a 3600 square foot fire station (also funded with donations) was built in 1968. Another very important donation was a 1967 American LaFrance fire engine, given by a local developer in 1977.
In 1985, under the direction of new fire chief Ron Collier, the department began to undergo major change. In 1986 the voters of Windsor overwhelmingly approved the formation of a special tax district, and the Windsor Fire Protection District was created.
In 1988, two full-time captains were hired (the department’s first paid suppression staff), followed by two engineer/firefighters in 1991. The station was staffed Monday-Friday, from 7:00 to 5:30. The paid staff were on call-back status for after-hours emergencies, and the department’s volunteers provided the majority of the response to nighttime emergencies.
As the department and the community grew, so did the need for a larger, more modern fire station. In May 1997 construction of a new 18,000 square foot headquarters fire station at 8200 Old Redwood Highway was completed. Now Station 1, this $2.6 million facility is more than six times larger than the original station (which remains in service as an unstaffed station, Station 2). Its second-floor houses administration, fire prevention and a conference room, while the first floor is devoted to the suppression staff: offices, training/meeting room, kitchen, day room, tool room, ten individual sleeping rooms, a fully equipped gym, equipment rooms, service areas, and the apparatus bay. The downstairs training/meeting room also serves as the Town of Windsor’s emergency operations center.
In 1997 the department hired a full-time battalion chief/fire marshal, and in August 1998, with the addition of another captain and engineer/firefighter, the department began 24-hour staffing, with one two-person engine company on duty each day.
In 2005, the agencies saw a need for the two agencies to work closer together, the RVFPD management group (1-fire chief, 1-assisnt fire chief, 2-shift battalion chiefs, 1-finance manager) were invited to move their offices to Windsor Fire Station No. 1 joining the WFPD management group (1 =fire chief, 1-Battalion Chief Fire Marshal, 1- finance manager, 2-part-time battalion chiefs, and 1-Admitrative Assistant). About this time the two battalion RVFPD retired and those positions remained vacant for about a year. Then, combining two chiefs from RVPFD, and one from WFPD, Battalion 7 was created providing a chief officer 24-7 for both districts. Battalion 7 was a flat cost (the three battalion chiefs were salary) and worked the standard firefighter schedule in addition to their weekday administrative duties.
In 2006, after two unsuccessful attempts, WFPD passed a special tax -- Measure K -- authorizing the Windsor Fire Protection District to levy "an additional special tax with a maximum rate (subject to adjustment for inflation) of $.04/sq. ft. for residential properties, from $.05 to
$.09/sq. ft. for commercial and industrial properties, and $36 for mobile home spaces and vacant parcels." Measure K was pass on the promise that funds would be used to staff a second fire station and partially fund a ladder truck. Immediately after the passage of Measure K, firefighter staffing was augmented by two and a ladder truck (quint) was ordered. A portion land swap / land purchase between the Town of Windsor and the fire district resulted in moving the Station #2 from its location 444 Windsor River Road to 8600 Windsor Road.
In 2008, the states of the economy dipped greatly, and home values dropped sharply greatly effecting the budgets of both districts. To avoid station closures and employee layoffs, the districts increasing the sharing services/administrative employees and kept the two battalion chiefs open/vacant. During this time, several planning meetings were being conducted by gathering facts and ideas for the future. These meetings were open to all employees, BODs, and was facilitated by Retired San Rafael Fire Chief. These meetings created the foundation of Central Fire Authority – a fire management group that would oversee the two districts.