Calaveras County Grand Jury
• 2025-2026
Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District: Safety, Fiscal, and Retaliation Concerns
⚠️ 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 5 findings
F1
Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District lacks or is deficient in the following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-required programs and/or required documentation thereof: Respiratory Protection Program, Exposure Control Plan, Heat Illness Protection Program, and Injury and Illness Prevention Program. This has resulted in significant health and safety risks for its firefighters, and poses a potential legal and financial liability to the District.
F2
Staff grievances presented to Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District management and Board of Directors resulted in instances of retaliation and a general fear of retaliation among the staff.
F3
Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District’s current Standard Operating Policies are incomplete and outdated, resulting in inconsistency, lack of clarity, and non-compliance in following fire industry standards.
F4
Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District’s policies regarding the use of alcohol or drugs while on duty, on agency property, or conducting agency business are not consistently enforced, resulting in potential risk to firefighters and the community, as well as potential legal and financial liability to the Fire District. 11
F5
Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors bylaws do not provide for the rotation of Board officer positions nor set limits for how many consecutive years Board members may hold officer positions, allowing for individuals to hold the same position indefinitely, which impedes the sharing of responsibility, knowledge, and accountability among all Board members.
Recommendations 7
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R1aCalaveras County Civil Grand Jury recommends Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District review all OSHA-required programs for fire districts, comply with those requirements, including required documentation, and verify compliance beginning no later than November 1, 2026, and annually thereafter. Required Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors Invited Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Fire Chief
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R1bCalaveras County Civil Grand Jury recommends Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District designate by September 1, 2026, a Health and Safety Officer, who is not the Fire Chief or a Board member, to make sure proper training is completed and documented, and that health and safety protocols are being followed. Required Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors Invited Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Fire Chief
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R2aCalaveras County Civil Grand Jury recommends all Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection 10 District Board members and staff attend biennial ethics and harassment prevention training beginning no later than September 30, 2026, in order to recognize protected activities such as reporting misconduct, fostering a “speak-up” culture, and protecting whistleblowers from adverse actions. Required Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors Invited Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Fire Chief
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R2bCalaveras County Civil Grand Jury recommends Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District appropriately document when biennial ethics and harassment prevention training are completed beginning no later than September 30, 2026. Required Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors Invited Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Fire Chief
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R3Calaveras County Civil Grand Jury recommends Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District implement a new Standard Operating Procedures manual that conforms to fire industry standards and a new Policies and Procedures Manual by December 1, 2026. Required Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors Invited Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Fire Chief
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R4Calaveras County Civil Grand Jury recommends that all Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District firefighters, including all leadership, paid and volunteer personnel, acknowledge and document their agreement to the Fire District’s drug and alcohol zero tolerance and Stand Down policies, annually, beginning December 1, 2026. Required Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors Invited Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Fire Chief
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R5Calaveras County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board, in the interest of fairness and transparency of leadership, update their bylaws to include the rotation of Board officer positions by September 30, 2026. Required Response Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors
In the Press 1
Press coverage of this report, automatically tracked.
Criticism Of Mokelumne Hill Fire Protection District Draws Grand Jury Investigation - myMotherLode.com
myMotherLode.com
· July 16, 2026
