An East County fire training program got a boost this week when an additional $500,000 was allocated to the district to help pay for a mobile fire unit training tower.
Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Discovery Bay, pushed for the monies that were included in a senate bill that amends the Budget Act of 2019 and includes the additional funding for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, along with other agencies. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 109 from the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review earlier this week.
The additional money will go toward paying for a training tower that will become the centerpiece of ECCFPD’s training regimen, according to Frazier.
“Nothing is more important than continuing training assistance for our firefighter personnel, especially in this age of devastating fires,” Frazier said.
The tower will be a first for the district, which previously trained on parking structures, abandoned houses, parking lots or wherever they could find an opportunity, according to Brian Oftedal, ECCFPD board president.
“Now they (ECCFPD firefighters) will be able to have a dedicated facility, within our district, to maintain their firefighting, rescue and emergency medical skills,” Oftedal said. “I am incredibly appreciative of the time and energy that Assemblymember Frazier has put into securing the much-needed funding, for a training facility,” he added.
ECCFPD has three active fire stations with three firefighters each at all times. The district, in partnership with the city of Oakley, is also building a fourth fire station set to be completed in the spring of 2020, though funding for the firefighters to staff it is yet to be worked out.
Even so, district officials were pleased to get one of the items that was earmarked high on its lists of needs. Under the provisions of the bill, the can be spent for equipment, vehicle or facilities acquisitions or improvements.
“This is fantastic news, additional funding for the fire district is a huge win for the residents and businesses in East Contra Costa,” Oftedal said. “… I am incredibly appreciative of the time and energy that Assemblymember Frazier has put into securing the much-needed funding for a training facility.”
The long-beleaguered East County fire district has battled financial issues for years, but have been unable to get any tax measure passed to pump up its coffers. ECCFPD’s funding was first established when the district was mostly rural and has not as populated as East County is now. The property tax allocation share, however, has stayed at 7 percent of the total county funds while need for services has grown dramatically as the population has increased.
“Every little bit of money we can identify to improve fire service in East County will go to good use,” Frazier added.
The ECCFPD provides firefighting personnel and basic life-support emergency medical services to the residents and businesses in a 249-square-mile area covering Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek, and Morgan Territory.
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