⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
Equipment: Emergency response crews lack needed modern gear and equipment. Rural responders are sometimes forced to use obsolete gear and clothing which do not adequately protect them. The lack of modern equipment jeopardizes safety and impairs the response capability of rural emergency response crews.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that for the coming five years, Humboldt County should compensate for decades of dwindling resources by assigning a minimum of 20% of the Measure Z tax revenue to rural fire and emergency service providers, to address long-standing equipment deficiencies, as recommended by the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Humboldt County. (F1, F2, F3, F4)
F2
Communication: A secure and reliable communication system is needed by the fire and emergency services units.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that for the coming five years, Humboldt County should compensate for decades of dwindling resources by assigning a minimum of 20% of the Measure Z tax revenue to rural fire and emergency service providers, to address long-standing equipment deficiencies, as recommended by the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Humboldt County. (F1, F2, F3, F4)
F3
Safety is a concern for citizens in rural Humboldt County: The 90,000 rural residents of Humboldt County have become increasingly apprehensive about their personal safety and the welfare of their property. 4
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that for the coming five years, Humboldt County should compensate for decades of dwindling resources by assigning a minimum of 20% of the Measure Z tax revenue to rural fire and emergency service providers, to address long-standing equipment deficiencies, as recommended by the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Humboldt County. (F1, F2, F3, F4)
R2
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors set a goal to have all Humboldt County residents covered by a fire and emergency services district within five years. (F3, F4)
F4
Tax base: The industries and commercial activities which supported the legislature’s “local/traditional/self-tax” policy of fire and emergency services in Humboldt County have faded away in the past 50 years. The present system is unfair to ratepayers who live in a district and find themselves paying for their own fire and emergency services and also for nonsubscribers who live in “no district” territory.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that for the coming five years, Humboldt County should compensate for decades of dwindling resources by assigning a minimum of 20% of the Measure Z tax revenue to rural fire and emergency service providers, to address long-standing equipment deficiencies, as recommended by the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Humboldt County. (F1, F2, F3, F4)
R2
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors set a goal to have all Humboldt County residents covered by a fire and emergency services district within five years. (F3, F4)
R3
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors go beyond the Measure Z temporary funding and move to a permanent funding model for a regional fire and emergency services district. (F4, F6, F7)
F5
A county fire and emergency services officer: Humboldt County has a constellation of fire and emergency services organizations, with dedicated first responders. The lack of a county- level Director of Fire and Emergency Services, comparable to the Sheriff, to oversee and assist the local district personnel and programs, impacts the county-level ability to interact with state government, local, and city fire departments, and with the Sheriff’s Office.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors establish a Humboldt County Director of Fire and Emergency Services position. (F5, F6, F7)
R6
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors initiate a study to see how a countywide comprehensive fire and emergency services unification, covering all county residents, has been accomplished in other California counties. The 5 study should begin as soon as possible and be completed before the five year sunset of Measure Z. (F5, F6, F7)
F6
Bergeson Law: The legislation governing fire and emergency services in unincorporated territory was written for another era and is now inadequate for Humboldt County.
Related Recommendations (4)
R3
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors go beyond the Measure Z temporary funding and move to a permanent funding model for a regional fire and emergency services district. (F4, F6, F7)
R4
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors establish a Humboldt County Director of Fire and Emergency Services position. (F5, F6, F7)
R5
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors lobby the Humboldt County state legislators, requesting that the Bergeson Law be amended to better reflect the funding needs of today’s rural counties. (F6)
R6
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors initiate a study to see how a countywide comprehensive fire and emergency services unification, covering all county residents, has been accomplished in other California counties. The 5 study should begin as soon as possible and be completed before the five year sunset of Measure Z. (F5, F6, F7)
F7
A different paradigm: Other counties in California have set aside the localized fire and emergency services model promoted by the Bergeson Law and have moved to a regional model with a countywide district and board. In some cases, the county supervisors are the board.
Related Recommendations (3)
R3
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors go beyond the Measure Z temporary funding and move to a permanent funding model for a regional fire and emergency services district. (F4, F6, F7)
R4
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors establish a Humboldt County Director of Fire and Emergency Services position. (F5, F6, F7)
R6
The Humboldt County Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors initiate a study to see how a countywide comprehensive fire and emergency services unification, covering all county residents, has been accomplished in other California counties. The 5 study should begin as soon as possible and be completed before the five year sunset of Measure Z. (F5, F6, F7)
Agency Responses 1
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.