CSA48: 2007

• Increased funding from a ballot measure is required to keep these four stations open and fully staffed with career firefighters year-round.
• If nothing is done, we face cutbacks in trained emergency responders and/or closure of some local fire stations from November through May.
• Local volunteer firefighters work closely with career firefighters, especially in areas several miles from a CAL-FIRE station. They rely heavily on Santa Cruz County Fire for training, tools and equipment and also face funding cuts if nothing is done.
• The ballot measure is required to maintain efficient, effective rapid response in a fire or medical emergency year-round.
• The County is considering a ballot measure that would assess homeowners $8.25/month more per single-family residential property for Santa Cruz County Fire. All funds raised by the measure would remain in local communities and could only be used to ensure and directly support fire protection and emergency medical response.

Potential impacts of budget cuts if there is no increase in funding for Santa Cruz County Fire:
• If fire stations close due to personnel cuts, response times in a fire or medical emergency could increase by anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on your location.
• The first minutes are most important in an emergency. Cutting back firefighters and emergency medical responders, or closing some stations that serve our area, will affect life and death situations.
• Homeowner insurance premiums may also increase significantly, as other rural California areas such as Humboldt County have learned.
• Without additional funding, aging fire engines and equipment will not be upgraded to ensure our firefighters have safe and operational equipment they can trust in an emergency.
• Without a ballot measure, volunteers face cuts in funding
for equipment, lifesaving tools, training, emergency communications and fire truck maintenance and operation.

Santa Cruz County Fire
2006 Incident Breakdown
Medical	546
Wildland Fire	92
Vehicle Fire	39
Other Fire	217
Traffic Collision	263
Rescue	16
Hazardous Conditions	194
Law Enforcement	13
Public Assist	61
Other	3
Total	1672

CSA48

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

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