Westside residents upset about Merced County’s planned closure of a fire station near Dos Palos are breathing a little easier after supervisors decided Tuesday to keep it open for another 18 months.
The unanimous decision to keep Station 75 at the Dos Palos Wye open comes just a little over two weeks after the board decided 3-2 to close it.
Station 75 is one of two Merced County Fire Department/Cal Fire stations serving the Dos Palos area.
It faces potential closure as county officials grapple with costs to meet a state minimum requirement of staffing two personnel on duty 24/7 at every Cal Fire station.
This year, Dos Palos voters supported a March sales tax measure to contribute $200,000 to $250,000 annually to fire service costs.
Despite the measure’s success, leaders say the county could face costs up to $1.3 million to keep both fire stations open. This comes amid tough economic conditions at the state that are likely to trickle down to local governments.
Prior to the board’s change of heart on Tuesday, residents spoke passionately about the potential “life and death” impacts of closing the station, particularly in terms of response times on the Highway 152 corridor.
That includes the increased length of time it would take firefighters to arrive at emergencies like fires, vehicle accidents and medical incidents at area farms, ranches and businesses.
Hannah Cole, a third-generation Dos Palos resident, educator and business owner, described Station 75 as a lifeline for a rural area that’s already stretched thin for emergency coverage, particularly given the thousands of motorists who travel on Highway 152 daily.
“It’s not just a matter of local convenience, it’s about public safety and preservation for rural livelihoods,” Cole said.
With Tuesday’s vote, the county will continue to fund fire services at Stations 75 and 76 for 18 months.
County and Dos Palos leaders are expected to take a thorough look at the plan to contribute to fire services before that period expires.
Supervisor Scott Silveira, a former volunteer firefighter whose District 5 includes Dos Palos, had initially requested that the period be three years, but was willing to compromise with his colleagues.
“I can honestly say that I know all of you gentlemen very well up here, and nobody loves doing this. Nobody wants to close the fire station,” Silveira said.
“But for me, in my mind, (keeping the station open) is the right thing to do. And when it’s the right thing to do, you suck it up and you find the resources to do it.”
District 1 Supervisor James Pacheco said once a fire station is closed, it’s very hard to reopen. “And I think we at least need to make the effort to keep it open,” Pacheco said.
