Tension flares again between Modesto fire agencies

The emergency response to a devastating fire this week highlighted mounting tension between two Modesto fire agencies and called into question the consequences for public safety.

The fire — on Figaro Avenue east of Sutter Avenue in west Modesto on Tuesday — destroyed a duplex and displaced eight people, including six children.

The Burbank-Paradise Fire Protection District had jurisdiction and responded within five minutes to find three-quarters of the home consumed by fire.

The incident commander called for three outlying agencies to provide mutual aid: Westport Fire District, Woodland Avenue Fire District and the Ceres Fire Department.

But the closest agency, Modesto Regional Fire Authority's Station 2, was not asked to help.

"I am very concerned," said Modesto Regional Fire Authority Chief Mike Kraus. "The standard of the industry is that the closest resources respond to the fire."

Station 2 is five blocks away.

The Ceres Fire Department is more than three miles away. Westport Fire District is about five miles away and Woodland Avenue Fire District is nearly six miles away.

During the first 15 minutes of the fire, Station 2 firefighters were available to respond, Kraus said. They never were called.

Burbank-Paradise Chief Mike Hillar said he decided to call Ceres instead of Modesto because his district has a better working relationship with Ceres and the choice made no difference in the outcome of the fire.

"The fire was in my jurisdiction and every (agency) calls who they need to call at a certain time for certain aid," he said. "It is my district. It is my prerogative."

Krause and Hillar acknowledge the relationship between Burbank-Paradise and Modesto Regional has been strained for years. The two met to discuss their differences Thursday evening.

Hillar has worked for his district for 21 years. He said conflict between the agencies has been ongoing for as long as he can remember. Jurisdictional conflicts are common, he said.

"Fire departments are very territorial and they are extremely passionate about what they do," he said.

The chiefs could not pinpoint what started the dispute. Both acknowledged that friction is most apparent when agencies are working a fire together.

Neither would elaborate on what disputes have taken place at fires, but Kraus said, "The lack of adherence to the industry standard on the fire ground gives me cause for concern."

"I am very hopeful we will be able to come to a resolution and be able to work these issues out and get back to the business of giving the citizens the best service possible," he said.

Kraus said Tuesday's fire was not the first incident in which Burbank-Paradise chose not to ask Modesto Regional for help. He could not say how often it has happened.

Much of Burbank- Paradise's district is surrounded by Modesto Regional. For calls near the agencies' boundaries or those without a specific address, dispatch will recommend an agency. But Hillar said if there is any question about boundaries, dispatch always sends Modesto Regional, which only fuels tension.

Hillar said this was one of the issues he and Kraus discussed Thursday.

The chiefs agreed to have their crews participate in more joint training operations and hold regular meetings to track progress.

Kraus described a common "goal to increase the ability to be able to work together more safely and efficiently on the fire ground."

During the house fire on Figaro, Burbank-Paradise responded quickly, determined no one was inside and had to fight the fire defensively until the Modesto Irrigation District could cut electricity to a power line severed by the heat.

Hillar said the fire was handled appropriately and "there is no deficiency in how we run our department."

Krause wouldn't speculate whether the result would have been different had Modesto Regional Fire responded.

"It wasn't the best use of resources," he said.

Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366.