Crime & Safety

MOFD District Board Discusses the Future of Fire Protection In Lamorinda

Closure of a ConFire station in Lafayette prompts a discussion by the MOFD board on how best to preserve an automatic aid agreement between the two districts.

The Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Board of Directors contemplated the future of the automatic aid agreement with Contra Costa Fire Protection District at Wednesday night’s board meeting. No action was taken, but the board did discuss changes in response the two districts have seen since the closure of Station 16 in Lafayette.

MOFD Division Chief Stephen Healy presented data on the impact of the Station 16 closure, shuttered after rats and mold closed down the station indefinitely in June.

Run data presented at Wednesday's meeting showed that MOFD has provided an increased number of responses to calls in ConFire jurisdiction since the closure, while ConFire's run rate declined.  MOFD responded to calls in ConFire’s jurisdiction an average of 16 times per month, while ConFire responded in MOFD’s jurisdiction an average of 21 times per month, since June 20, 2012.

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Healy pointed out that aid agreements are never exactly equal, and that MOFD staff should continue to monitor the data, and come back to the board with any major changes.

“We’ve always been good neighbors with ConFire, and I think that the arrangement is mutually beneficial, and that the arrangement and friendship is worth protecting,” said Healy.

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Both Treasurer Frank Sperling and President Fred Weil agreed, saying that in the short term the closure of Station 16 did not seem to be a major issue.

However, Weil said he was concerned that if the ConFire parcel tax measure did not pass in November, the county district may not be able to provide the same level of resources to MOFD as it has in the past.

The ConFire parcel tax measure was placed on the ballot July 31, and asks residents to pay an extra $75 year to help the fire district with revenue loss.

The board concluded Wednesday that they would continue to monitor the issue, and make changes as necessary in the future. 


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