JULIAN, Calif. --
They're used to battling brush fires but more than a dozen rural volunteer fire departments are now at the center of a different battle: whether to consolidate under a state-agency or remain independent. The controversy has many home owners wondering whether their homes will be safe.
Lance Edwards enjoys the quiet life at his home in Julian, but in an instant that life was nearly turned upside down. After four hours of fighting to protect his home from the 2003 Cedar fire an exhausted Edwards got a surprise.
"When I saw those guys I knew I was saved," he said. "They came running down the hill dragging hose."
Fifteen firefighters saved Edwards' home; firefighters from the Julian Volunteer Fire Department. It's a department, along with several others, at the center of controversy.
"We're still opposed to it," Julian fire chief Kevin Dubler said about a plan to consolidate seven remaining rural volunteer fire departments.
Under the plan, the departments, which currently operate independently, would be placed under the umbrella of Cal-Fire, a state agency. Chief Dennis Sherman of the Mt. Laguna Volunteer Fire Department has a different idea.
"Would it take longer to build from within, to to build a countywide department?" Sherman asked. "Yes it would. But it would be a whole lot less money."
The back country fire chiefs say their plan would staff and operate all seven volunteer stations plus six others full-time for $3.6 million, about $12 million less than the county plan.
They're also concerned about losing local staff and fear the communities they serve will get less service.
Ken Miller, fire coordinator for the county says that's not the case.
"They have structural contracts as well. They provide the fire protection for Ramona, Deer Springs, Valley Center, Pine Valley and they train just like any other professional department from the structural and medical perspective," Miller said.
As for Lance Edwards he credits the local volunteers for saving his home and the fire chief for leading the charge.
"He said, 'go to Lance's house 'cause he's not leaving," Edwards said. "And they drove straight here."
That's something he says is an advantage in the time of need.
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