On June 24, 2024, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury released a report warning that the Arcata Fire District (AFD) is “approaching desperate financial conditions” and may have to reduce services and close one of its stations. The report also states (quoted from the report, page 3):
“Multi-story structure fires already exceed the District’s response capacity. If there is a multistory building fire the District must wait for assistance from neighboring Departments. The District does not have a ladder truck due to:
- The high cost of purchasing a ladder truck
- The high cost of ladder truck maintenance
- Certification costs, required every two years
- The large number of staff required to operate a ladder truck
- The lack of a District building big enough to house a ladder truck
- Staff training costs.
The nearest ladder truck is in Eureka at the Humboldt Bay Fire Station 1, 533 C Street. This is 8.6 miles from what is currently the tallest Cal Poly Humboldt building, the five-story
Behavioral and Social Sciences Building.”
The Report
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Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury Report
Arcata Fire District — Dwindling Resources = Dwindling Services
June 24, 2024
15 pages
Articles about the report and this situation
The Mad River Union
Grand Jury foresees fire district funding, staffing, equipment shortfalls
July 4, 2024
Lost Coast Outpost
GRAND JURY SAYS: With Limited Funds and Skyrocketing Buildings, the Arcata Fire District is in Serious Trouble
June 24, 2024
Jefferson Public Radio
Arcata Fire District ‘running out of money,’ report warns
June 25, 2024
Northcoast Journal – cover story, June 27, 2024 issue
Fire Alarm
Facing increased calls, soaring expenses and few volunteers, local fire departments are in trouble
The Grand Jury Report
Here is the 15-page Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury report on the issues of the Arcata Fire District.
All ten of the 2023-2024 Grand Jury reports can be viewed on the Humboldt County website at: humboldtgov.org/Archive.aspx?ADID=1561