Con Fire, East Contra Costa Fire Approve Merger

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and East Contra Costa Fire Protection District announced their boards of directors have each approved resolutions for the annexation of ECCFPD into Con Fire.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, acting as the Con Fire Board, unanimously approved a resolution Sept. 14 for Con Fire to annex East Contra Costa Fire.

"I am so excited and proud of the team work that has brought us to this point," said District 3 Supervisor and Board Chair Diane Burgis, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. "... We are a giant step closer to providing improved fire and rescue services in East Contra Costa County. I look forward to continuing to work to push this across the finish line."

The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted unanimously at a special meeting Sept. 16 to move forward with consolidation with Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

"Annexation into Con Fire is a huge victory for the businesses and residents of East Contra Costa," said Brian Oftedal, president of the East Contra Costa Fire Board of Directors. "We explored every option to fix this historically underfunded district and provide a better service delivery model. Annexation will improve response times, open fire stations and provide a paramedic level of service for our communities."

The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District — ECCFPD — is a rural-funded fire district that currently operates three fire stations and has a three-station deficit. The district protects a population of more than 128,000 across its 249 square-mile service area encompassing the cities of Brentwood and Oakley, and the unincorporated communities of Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron, Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District — Con Fire — currently provides fire and emergency medical services to more than a million people across a 304 square-mile area, and through mutual aid, in and around 20 cities and unincorporated communities of Contra Costa County: the cities of Antioch, Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, San Pablo and Walnut Creek and the unincorporated communities of north Alamo, Alhambra Valley, Bay Point, Briones, Clyde, East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Montalvan Manor, North Richmond, Pacheo and Tara Hills.

Next Steps

The agencies are now expected to make applications to the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission — LAFCo — for formal approval of the annexation, according to a news release Monday.

"When approved, Con Fire will absorb the firefighting staff, support staff, facilities and equipment of today’s ECCFPD and the newly merged organization will provide improved fire and emergency services to the more than 128,000 residents of eastern Contra Costa County," Con Fire Spokesman Steve Hill said.

The annexation approval process is expected to take 4-6 months followed by operational and administrative consolidation of the two agencies.

"I am pleased by the decisions of the two agencies' boards, approving our requests to formally apply for annexation of East Contra Costa Fire into Con Fire," said Con Fire Chief Lewis Broschard. "I look forward to now beginning in earnest the implementation of this long-studied initiative that will provide more effective, efficient and safer fire and emergency services across our county."

Benefits of annexation for residents are expected to include more coordinated, cohesive and streamlined fire and emergency services, according to the news release. While both fire districts already work very closely on mutual aid assignments across current borders, each maintains separate operations, training and administrative functions, creating potential for economies of scale by bringing the separate operational entities under one administrative structure.

Another important benefit will be better alignment of firefighting models across districts that could net both increased fire services and improved firefighter safety, according to the news release. Annexation is also expected to reduce current burdens on the agencies’ busiest stations by increasing resources within Battalion 5 in East County.

"ECCFPD’s citizens and businesses are one step closer to receiving adequate fire and rescue service levels,” said ECCCFD Fire Chief Brian Helmick. "As the fire chief of East Contra Costa Fire, my staff and I will continue to diligently work to ensure the remaining consolidation processes go through seamlessly and in a timely manner."

Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District Not Part Of Merger

As for the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District, its board of directors decided not to participate in the annexation process at this time, choosing to go back to the strategic planning process they began a year or so ago before deciding to study the annexation possibility.

Rodeo-Hercules FPD Chief Bryan Craig released this statement to the community:

"Your voices have been heard and understood. The Fire District Board of Directors has requested the County Board of Supervisors remove the Rodeo – Hercules Fire Protection District from the annexation process. One of the most important takeaways for the Fire District is to communicate with our community better. The Fire District board will now begin a strategic planning process that will include your thoughts and input. Thank you for your interest and participation in this initiative."