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Service Zone FP-5

2024 Information

Disclaimer: The information provided on this webpage is for informational purposes only. The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District does not advocate a “yes” or “no” vote on any ballot measure.

In 2018, the Service Zone FP-5 was expanded to include the geographic areas served by the SBCFPD but not yet included in the FP-5 zone. This expansion resulted in the FP-5 special tax applying to properties in the existing and expanded geographic areas.

Service Zone FP-5 special tax revenue provides fire, rescue & emergency medical services (EMS) with professional firefighters, in addition to many specialized services including, but not limited to, hand crews, dozers, and fire prevention officers.

Service Zone FP-5 provides SBCFPD with revenue to maintain its current level of service.

Proposed Measure W

Proposed Measure W will be on the 2024 Presidential Primary Election Ballot on March 5, 2024 for residents living in County Fire service areas where Service Zone FP-5 supports fire service.

The measure will read “Shall the measure to repeal the special tax for San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Service Zone FP-5 be adopted?”

Yes

Repeals the special tax for San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Service Zone FP-5.

No

Does not repeal the special tax for San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Service Zone FP-5.

Community Meetings

Facts on Service Zone FP-5 Revenue

  • With continued FP-5 funds:
  • Fire, Rescue & EMS maintained at current service levels
  • 48 fire stations remain open
  • Fully staffed with firefighters and paramedics
  • Maintain current response times
  • Without continued FP-5 funds:
  • Approximately $47 million annual reduction of revenue
  • 16 of 48 fire stations may be closed
  • Reduction of first responders by up to 1/3
  • Increased response times

Impacts/Potential Program Reductions

  • 911 emergency response times
  • Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating (insurance rate may increase)
  • Paramedic/EMT services
  • Revenue to paid-call fire stations
  • Fire Station maintenance
  • Emergency vehicle and equipment replacement
  • Mutual-Aid (support provided to and from other fire agencies)
  • Employee development and training
  • Hazardous Materials response
  • Fuel reduction projects (clearance of brush)
  • Fire Prevention/Community Risk Reduction programs
  • SWAT/Paramedic program that supports law enforcement

SBCFPD Budgeted Revenue FY23/24

* Figures rounded to the nearest whole number

Budget Unit/ZoneProperty TaxesFees/Contracts/Other RevenueCounty General Fund MOUFP-5 Special TaxTotal Revenue
Admin/Special Ops.14,999,4586,334,36021,333,818
Mountain18,359,324288,122800,0005,937,03125,384,477
North Desert21,350,7988,760,1636,800,00012,866,64849,777,609
South Desert10,127,373281,1361,800,00010,452,80922,661,318
Valley67,671,67547,158,56217,222,336132,052,573
Medical Services11,206,0542,500,00013,706,054
Total$132,508,628$74,028,397$11,900,000$46,478,824$264,915,849
*FP-5 revenue generated in each service zone must be spent in that service zone

Service Zone Impacts without Service Zone FP-5 Special Tax Revenue

West Valley

  • Reduce professional suppression staff by 16% 
  • Reduction of firefighters from 56 personnel per day to 47 personnel
  • Currently have 12 fully staffed fire stations & 1 volunteer fire station
    3 full-time fire stations may close
  • Reduction in 1 -2 staffed fire engine companies in Upland and San Antonio Heights areas
  • Reduction of 1 staffed fire engine in Bloomington area
  • Increase in response times of up to 7 1/2 minutes on critical emergencies

East Valley

  • Reduce professional suppression staff by 22%
  • Reduction of firefighters from 54 personnel per day to 42 personnel
  • Currently have 14 fully staffed fire stations / 4 full-time fire stations may close
  • Reduction in 3 – 4 engine companies and 1 squad in the San Bernardino area  
  • Potential closure of San Bernardino International Airport fire station. County Fire and SBIAA each pay 50% of the costs in a mutually beneficial partnership
  • Increase in response times of up to 5 minutes on critical emergencies

Contract stations will not be subject to closure/staffing reduction; however, they will feel the impacts of surrounding station closures

* See below service zone map for cities served

  • Reduce professional suppression staff by 33%
  • Reduction of firefighters from 18 personnel per day to 12 personnel
  • Reduce professional EMS Ambulance Operators by 25%
  • Reduction of professional EMS Ambulance Operators from 8 per day to 6 personnel per day
  • Currently have 6 fire stations & 3 paid-call fire stations / 2 full-time fire stations may close
  • Reduction from 6 Paramedic Staffed Fire Engines to 4
  • Increase in response times of up to 10 minutes on critical emergencies
  • Reduce professional suppression staff by 47%
  • Reduction of firefighters from 17 personnel per day to 9 personnel
  • Reduce professional EMS Ambulance Operators by 33%
  • Reduction of professional EMS Ambulance Operators from 6 per day to 4 personnel per day
  • Currently 6 fully staffed fire stations / 3 full-time fire stations may close
  • Reduction of 1 Medic Ambulance in Yucca Valley
  • Increase in response times of up to 8 minutes on critical emergencies

Contract stations will not be subject to closure/staffing reduction; however, they will feel the impacts of surrounding station closures

  • Reduce professional suppression staff by 38% (this includes 3 Battalion Chief positions)
  • Reduction of firefighters from 37 personnel per day to 23 personnel
  • Reduce professional EMS Ambulance Operators by 40%.
  • Reduction of professional EMS Ambulance Operators from 20 per day to 12 personnel per day
  • Currently 10 fully staffed fire stations & 3 paid-call fire stations / 3 fire stations may close
  • Reduction of 3 fire engines, 4 paramedic ambulances
  • Reduction of staffing on 2 fire engines from 3 personnel per engine to 2 per engine
  • Increase in response times of up to 6 minutes on critical emergencies

*This region historically has been under-resourced, with response times in certain areas exceeding one hour

Contract stations will not be subject to closure/staffing reduction; however, they will feel the impacts of surrounding station closures

Administration/Special Operations

  • Elimination of administration/special operations staff by 43%; reducing ability to complete project management, strategic planning and community risk assessments
  • Training & Safety/Wildland/EMS Division
    • Loss of ability to plan and develop community risk reduction and fuel modification projects to reduce the threat from wildfires
    • Loss of ability to deliver recruit training tower
    • Loss of ability to continue to develop our employees through remedial and career development training
    • Loss of ability to properly support, oversee and develop Ambulance Operator program
    • Loss of ability to properly support personnel EMS training/education needs

The Office of the Fire Marshal, Community Safety Division provides fire planning and engineering, plan reviews, new construction inspections, annual and state mandated fire inspections, fire/arson investigations, public education program, Juvenile Firestarter program, fire suppression support activity such as damage assessment and crew support through the Arson Investigation Unit.

  • The loss of administrative general fund support could result in a $2.7 million loss in operating revenues
  • Current prevention services are supported by the fire suppression divisions through reimbursements for fire prevention services provided in their respective divisions. In order to offset the loss of funding, the following measures would be necessary:
    • Reduction in Community Safety staffing by 50% creating an immediate impact on the annual mandatory inspection program
    • Increase of approximately 41% to program fees; increased financial hardship for business community
    • Elimination of ancillary services such as public education, juvenile firestarter program, etc.
    • Contract city services would need to be re-negotiated to maintain current level of services
    • Community Risk Reduction as an on-going initiative would be drastically reduced, as it requires a robust Fire Prevention Program that includes prevention programs, construction planning/inspection services, arson investigations, pre-planning and public outreach for stakeholder investment

Service Zone Map

About SBCFPD

  • Continuation of Service Zone FP-5 revenue means:
  • 48 Professionally Staffed Fire Stations
  • 7 Paid-Call/Volunteer Fire Stations
  • The SBCFPD has over 1,000 employees, with about 640 being fire suppression personnel
  • On average, the SBCFPD responds to over 133,000 calls for service a year
  • Of the recommended Budget FY23/24, $47 million (~18%) generated from FP-5
  • The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District is an all-risk/full-service fire department committed to providing the highest level of service in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. At 20,160 square miles, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the continental United States and our jurisdiction protects 19,293 square miles with diverse environments that stretch from the Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange County borders to our south and west, the Colorado River and Arizona to the east, to the Nevada State line and Kern and Inyo counties on the north. In the middle lies the snow-capped San Bernardino mountain range. We are the local fire department for over 60 communities, from rural towns to major cities, and all the unincorporated areas of the county.

    The SBCFPD is the largest provider of Advanced Life Support (ALS) Emergency Medical Services in the County, with close to 600 Suppression Paramedics and EMTs. The SBCFPD is also the second largest provider of ambulance transport services in the County, with over 100 non-safety Ambulance Operators. SBCFPD deploys 17 full time Advanced Life Support ambulances daily. SBCFPD also has three Basic Life Support ambulances upstaffed in remote areas as needed.

About SBCFPD

Aircraft Incidents Forest Fires Narrow or Blocked Access Swift Water Rescue
Big Rig Fires Hazardous Materials Incidents Off Road Incidents Traffic Collisions
Business Inspections High Angle / Tower Rescue Over the Side Rescue Vegetation Fires
Cave Rescue Ice Rescue Overgrown Roadways Water Rescue
Cliff Rescue Medical Aid Railcar Incidents Wilderness Rescue
Commercial Structure Fires Mine Rescues Residential House Fires And many others
Fire Cause Investigation Multi-Casualty Incidents Snowcat Responses