Protecting Communities and the Need for Adequate Fire Staffing: A View of Merced County

Having spent my career in cities that provided their own fire department response, my time in the City of Livingston has shown that fire deployment varies greatly across the state.

This post will touch on fire services delivered in Merced County, and how the Livingston City Council has decided to grapple with this policy issue.

Fire Staffing in Merced County

When it comes to public safety, Police and Fire response are the first two services that come to mind. While Livingston provides its own Police services via the Livingston Police Department, Fire response is provided by Merced County via a contract with CalFire. It serves the unincorporated portions of the County, as well as a few incorporated cities including Livingston, Gustine, and Dos Palos. While these cities are smaller in population, the geographic size of Merced County means that some of these stations are positions strategically for emergency response.

My first surprise came when I learned that the County provided fire staffing at a 1-0 level meaning one fire staff member on duty 24 hours a day/7 days a week. My time in previous southern California cities (Hemet and San Bernardino) had staffing levels of 2-0 for a medic squad, all the way up to 4-0 for a truck.

While the City could provide its own staffing level, it has never planned for this type of scenario, and as a result, has struggled with how to move forward.

Policy Calls for the City Council: Fire Staffing in Livingston

The City and County had not updated its fire services agreement in nearly 30 years which is also relevant to fire staffing in Merced County. The last time the City and County entered into an agreement was in 1995, and we all know how much the world has evolved since then. The Council decided to weigh in on what to do in the absence of a long term agreement, and how to provide adequate services to the community. The community is fortunate to have Foster Farms based in the community, as well as notable operations from Gallo Wines. Additionally, significant agricultural industry calls Livingston home, so there are many that rely on the provision of fire services.

The video below highlights some of the items the Council chose to take on.

Thoughts? Please feel free to send me a message.