Another large part of Stanislaus County opts to have Modesto run its fire service
The city of Modesto is close to assuming management of the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.
The district board voted 5-0 on Thursday, Jan. 13, for a contract running though June 2027. It will take effect Feb. 1 if the Modesto City Council signs off, too.
The district serves a 199-square-mile zone that includes Riverbank, Waterford, Hickman, La Grange, Empire, the Beard Industrial District and large rural expanses.
Modesto already has contracts for fire service in the cities of Ceres and Oakdale, and in the Oakdale Rural Fire Protection District. Turlock officials are discussing a possible agreement with Stanislaus County’s biggest city, too.
Proponents say these partnerships reduce administrative costs while enhancing the response to fires, medical emergencies and other calls.
Stanislaus Consolidated was itself founded 1995 as a way to streamline operations, merging three smaller districts. But it, too, has struggled financially.
Under the agreement with Modesto, the district would continue to employ the 66 firefighters and to own the stations and vehicles.
Modesto would manage the operations under the oversight of the district board. This would include budgeting, personnel, training, fire prevention and other tasks.
The district would pay the city $148,363 for services through June 30, end of the current fiscal year. The fee would be $371,599 in the following year and rise to about $420,000 by the final year.
The district will save an estimated $296,428 over the contract compared with keeping management in-house, said a report from Interim Fire Chief Eric DeHart and District Counsel Christopher Diaz.
“Looking into the financial aspects, MFD will be able to supply these services at a lesser cost than if SCFPD were to stay stand-alone,” they wrote.
The district operates stations in Riverbank, Empire, Waterford and La Grange, and on Mitchell Road near Modesto Airport. A sixth station on Highway 132 near Geer Road is temporarily closed because of a budget shortfall.
The Modesto City Council is expected to consider the contract Jan. 25. It would take effect a week later if approved.
Modesto has run the Oakdale-area fire departments under a three-year contract that started in July 2019. The city of Oakdale and the surrounding district have agreed to new contracts through June 2027.
Modesto took over in Ceres last August under a five-year contract. Turlock has asked Modesto to propose an agreement for fire administration services, and also expects a consultant’s findings around May.
