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Grand Jury foresees fire district funding, staffing, equipment shortfalls
ARCATA FIRE DISTRICT – The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury has released a report warning that the Arcata Fire District is “approaching desperate financial conditions” and may have to reduce services and close one of its stations.
The report, released on June 24, is titled “Arcata Fire District, Dwindling Resources = Dwindling Services.” It paints a dire picture of a fire district that is understaffed and underfunded, with no simple solutions available to alleviate its financial woes beyond asking voters to raise their taxes.
The report also delves into the district’s lack of a ladder truck and proper staffing to respond to fires in multi-story buildings, such as Cal Poly Humboldt’s Craftsman Mall now under construction off of St. Louis Road near U.S. Highway 101. The project will include nearly 1,000 beds for student housing in a six-story building and a seven-story building.
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While the university is currently building the Craftsman Mall, the City of Arcata is forging ahead with its Gateway Area Plan, which may allow five to seven story buildings.
The Arcata Fire District does not have a ladder truck, nor does it have adequate staffing to meet national standards for responding to fires in multi-story buildings.
“Multi-story structure fires already exceed the District’s response capacity,” the Grand Jury report states. “If there is a multi-story 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 report continues “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.”
Arcata Fire is also unable to meet recommended staffing as called for by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Press / click here for the entire text of the Mad River Union article.