After multiple long and arduous meetings, and a split vote by the city council, the Victorville fire department services will be taken over by San Bernardino County.
The vote was 3-2 when it was all said and done. Both firefighters and citizens have mixed feelings regarding the takeover.
Victorville Fire Department member Marty Brown said earlier in the month that the union opposes having its department taken over by county. He said they do not feel contracting with county would be cost effective or in the best interest of the city.
“I don’t see how the county is going to be able to do it cheaper.â€
While he couldn’t yet discuss the finances of the transfer, North Desert Division Chief Tim Wessel said the benefits of contracting with the county go beyond money.
“We have a number of additional resources that are available to the cities who contract with us.â€
Wessel said contracting with the county would give Victorville access to a full training center, a full hazardous materials team, a full urban search and rescue team, bulldozers for use on vegetation fires and more.
Wessel said Victorville’s fire department is very strong and that there haven’t been any issues with the current program. But he also said contracting with the county may get fire crews on the scene more quickly in some cases. He said that when a call comes in, the county will send the closest available engine, whether or not it’s an engine from the Victorville station.
“Hesperia is seeing the benefit of that, Adelanto is seeing the benefit of that…â€
As the city requested, Wessel drafted a proposal analyzing three options for the county take-over of Victorville’s fire department: continuing with the same level of service with no paramedics on engines, implementing a three-person engine with a paramedic and implementing a four-person engine with a paramedic. He said the county is not recommending one option above another, though the vast majority of county-run departments use three-person crews including one paramedic.
“We provide the proposal and the city decides what is best,†he said.
2 comments ↓
Good LUCK VVFD, life as you knew it is over and for some of you, the new SBCOFD life will be better and for some it will be the same and some will find it is worse. But, it is what it is. I love the statements by SBCOFD admin. it always makes it look like SBCOFD is the best thing that could happen to a City with County taking over????? I guess if they keep telling themselve that they ultimately believe it.
Like VVFD didn’t run things right and now the County is going to show you guy’s how to run calls and that “THEY” will do it better!!!! RIP VVFD
Watch out Apple Valley FD, next they will be knocking on your door to show you they can run your calls better.
well as firemedic put it sbcofd will do a “better ” job then what use to be the victorville city fire dept. sbcofd is the new lacofd! county is becoming a well known department for its service and dedication! and vvfd dont act like you didnt see it coming, i do like seeing the tiller sitting in station 1 in victorville. the north desert is now bigger and badder then the valley will ever plan on being. and i got a pretty good laugh when i read the last part of firemedics comment “apple valley fd is next” and i do agree! i predict if happening within the next few years so you guys better watch out!
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