“Nearly every other day, we find ourselves calling on our neighboring fire districts to help us cover an emergency because we’re spread too thin.”
Steve Brown, Board Chair North Fork Fire Protection District
Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon, and North Fork fire districts serve over 400 square miles in some of the highest-risk wildfire areas in the state.
We regularly have to rely on back-up response from neighboring local fire districts, which can slow emergency response time
Our population is both growing and aging, increasing demand for calls.
We need to be able to update our existing resources and add technical, medical, and safety equipment and training.
Each district is experiencing annual increases in calls for service while seeing a continued decline in volunteerism.
New equipment is needed & replacements are getting more expensive.
Three years ago a new fire engine cost $600K; today the cost is nearly $1M.
Consolidating allows us to share our resources and leverage operational efficiencies, such as a streamlined dispatch and shared costly equipment.
Raising the mill levy to 16 for all property owners would provide an estimated $1,506,272 annually to be spent on hiring more staff to offset the decrease in volunteers and to cover increased costs of safety/medical equipment and training.
Each district currently has a different mill levy so it depends on where you live and the value of your property, but the average homeowner of a $650,000 home would see an increase of $8-14 a month.
You can use the Property Tax Calculator to determine your specific situation but for each district
More firefighters, EMTs and paramedics to offset the decrease in volunteers
Streamlined emergency dispatch system for better response times
Replace and purchase new equipment for increased efficiency and quality
Updates & additions to all three district stations to accommodate a 24-hour crew in each
It will not look or feel much different for the community other than a new name, plus more paid staff and volunteers. The same local fire stations and friendly faces would include:
A reorganized management structure to support a new district
Streamlined emergency dispatch system
Standardized hiring & training practices
Increased career staffing & volunteer recruitment
Shared knowledge, resources & equipment
Download our resources to learn more about our consolidation efforts
Cooperative Services Feasibility Study
November 2021
As we conduct public outreach to talk to the community about consolidation, we want to hear what’s on your mind. Submit your question using the form below. We’ll choose one question a week to feature on Facebook.
Elk Creek Fire puts consolidation questions on the November ballot
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Together, the Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork Fire Protection Districts are responsible for protecting 20,000 people and hundreds of structures in 400 square miles of some of the highest-risk wildfire areas in the state. And for several years now, each of us has struggled to handle large-scale fire events and emergencies on our own.
The Boards of Directors and the Chiefs from each of the three districts have been discussing for three years now the best options to ensure the long-term health and safety of the residents of our small mountain communities.
Together, the Elk Creek, Inter-Canyon and North Fork Fire Protection Districts are responsible for protecting 20,000 people and hundreds of structures in 400 square miles of some of the highest-risk wildfire areas in the state. And for several years now, each of us has struggled to handle large-scale fire events and emergencies on our own.
The Boards of Directors and the Chiefs from each of the three districts have been discussing for three years now the best options to ensure the long-term health and safety of the residents of our small mountain communities.
