El Medio firefighters thank community

OROVILLE — Measure B for the El Medio Fire Department enjoyed a clear victory Tuesday night with almost 73 percent voter approval, and the fire district staff was elated over the community’s support on Wednesday.

The measure is an assessment on property taxes for fire protection and emergency services within the district. The measure needed a two-thirds vote to pass.

The elections office reported 778 votes for the measure, with 288 against it.

Fire Chief Rusty Ohlhausen thanked everyone in the district for supporting the fire district.

“The community said in the election, yes, they want our Fire Department, and by golly they’ve got it,” Ohlhausen said. “Our guys are just elated.”

For more than 28 years, the little district in South Oroville has struggled to provide fire services on a thin budget. The firefighters, though educated and trained as professionals, earn little more than minimum wage, Ohlhausen said.

Ohlhausen said they had cut everything possible to keep the district going, while trying to provide quality fire services.

“There was no where else to cut except staff, as the budget was so thin,” Ohlhausen said.

Now, the district can bring back services that were cut such as weed abatement and public education on fire prevention, and they can keep three fire personal on an engine.

Ohlhausen said they can work toward bringing the fire rating lower, which will help lower fire insurance in the district.

Story by Oroville Mercury Register