Press Release

Action PAC Committee To Support measure C
Contacts
Joe Smith, ACTION 559-683-0212
Dave Herb, LAFCo Executive Officer 559-474-3181
Jim Simon, RSG 714-541-4585

Fire Chief Martin Confirms Town of Oakhurst Fire Protection

To address misconceptions regarding fire protection that has been stated by opponents to incorporation Fire Chief Mike Martin was asked by Madera County Chief Administrative Office, Stell Manfredi, to clarify the facts. Chief Martin states “the proposal to incorporate provides that fire department services currently available within the proposed incorporated area will continue, without change, on a contractual basis. As you are probably aware, the fire department assets currently stationed within the proposed incorporated boundaries depend on resources from outlying areas to provide an appropriate level of response for some emergencies. The practice of dispatching the nearest appropriate resources to any emergency within the Oakhurst area will continue under a fire protection contract with the Madera County Fire Department. Additionally, as is the case throughout the State of California, Mutual Aid resources from neighboring jurisdictions, will be requested if, and/when, emergency incident circumstances dictate the necessity for responses in excess of what the local jurisdiction can muster. Mutual Aid Resources are provided to the host agency free of charge, for the duration of need. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will continue to dispatch state funded resources to any fire incident within proposed incorporation area, which represents a direct threat to watershed values protected by the state. Additionally, as a neighbor jurisdiction, Cal Fire will continue to provide assistance to this area on incidents which are not defined as a threat to its jurisdiction, through the Master Mutual Aid System.”

Joe Smith with the ACTION committee to support Measure C (incorporation) stated: “The Nay Sayers have consistently gotten this one wrong. At one point they were declaring the town would go bankrupt after the first fire because the state would charge the town back for helping fight the fire. Chief Martin is clear that Mutual Aid is available to the town and fire services currently available will continue. I guess when people have no logical reasons to oppose something they just make things up! Our goal at ACTION is to make available to the citizens accurate information directly from people like Chief Martin”. Incorporation is not a magic pill that will solve all our problems but rather an opportunity for us to assume our responsibilities of self governance and take local control of our future rather than leaving it in the hands of those who do not live here. Incorporation is a change in government- not more government, no new taxes, no debt, no ordinance changes, no service reductions, just local citizens making local decisions that can protect our rural culture.