Sutter County Fire Chief: ‘We’re in dire straits’

June 23--Sutter County Fire Chief John Shalowitz remembers a fiery car crash four years ago that could have had a deadly ending.

A man had driven his vehicle into a tree at a high speed at Carlson Road, leaving him trapped as his car burst into flames.

The Sutter County Fire Department was the first to respond, but fiscal restraints had led to short staffing: there's only one firefighter on a truck at a time.

All that firefighter could do was hose down the flames to keep them away from the driver until, luckily, help from other agencies arrived. Personnel can't become more engaged than that unless there are two or more of them present.

The man left with burns but also with his life, Shalowitz said.

It's one example of how dire a situation the department is in, and how it affects more than just personnel.

Decades-old fire engines break down and are out of commission for months; pay isn't comparable to surrounding agencies; firefighters are leaving with back injuries and hernias at an extreme rate.

And by this time next year, the fund balance -- or "savings" account -- for Fire Protection District Service Area F (which includes the Sutter station, Live Oak station, and Oswald-Tudor station on Barry Road) will likely be depleted, county officials say.

"We are in dire straits of our financial status," Shalowitz said. "The numbers don't lie ... the numbers are proof."

At the county's budget hearing Thursday, Shalowitz, board members and county administration made clear the situation is no secret, but county officials say their hands are tied as the service area isn't funded through the general fund.

While he is seeking grants for assistance with equipment and temporary staffing, Shalowitz said the department likely will need support from residents in the form of a special fire tax increase. And if that doesn't pass, closing fire stations is the next step.

"Without looking at the grandiose ideas of having $5 million engines running down the road, we just need to have the equipment to provide the services that we're providing," Shalowitz told the board, "but at a decreased level would be very detrimental to the people."

Funding

The department's 2017-18 fiscal year budget totaled $2.8 million in both expenses and revenues, which Assistant County Administrator Steven Smith said has to balance by law. The majority of the revenue comes from property tax ($1.4 million), with $656,000 in contract revenue coming from the city of Live Oak. The special fire tax makes up about $295,000 of revenues, and $23,352 comes from grants, Smith said. The service area also has a use of funds balance, which is, essentially, a savings account. That made up $229,309 in revenue.

So, for every $1 of secured property taxes collected, 1.6 cents goes to service area F, and the general fund receives 16 cents per dollar, Smith said. The special fire tax is 2 cents per square foot on primary homes and attachments (like a garage), and 1 cent per square foot on outbuildings.

Salaries and benefits make up most of the expenses.

Shalowitz said the special fire tax went into effect in 1997 without an inflation factor, and has not been increased since.

"I think it's very important that we stress that the budget that's currently there is not a spending problem," Shalowitz said during the budget hearing, "we just have a fiscal problem that we have not been able to overcome and its progressively getting worse, and now we're seeing the end of that."

And what's really hurting the department, Shalowitz said, is workers compensation costs. In 2015, the department spent $64,000. For the adopted 2018-19 fiscal year budget, that jumped to $275,000.

County Administrative Officer Scott Mitnick said that while he is working with Shalowitz to seek alternative funding and look for other solutions, the county can't help out.

"We don't have offsetting revenue; it's really a math issue," Mitnick said. "I don't have any money lying around."

Mitnick said it's also rare to have a county fire department in the first place: Sutter County is one of only two in the state (the other being in San Francisco) that doesn't have CalFire influence in the area, meaning residents instead pay a CalFire tax for the agency to provide services.

Staffing, equipment

The Sutter County Fire Department doesn't staff with entry-level firefighters, because the entry-level job description doesn't allow them to drive a fire engine. It starts with a fire engineer, who starts at $14.61 per hour, with 11 steps up to $22.32 per hour. A fire captain then starts at $17.23 per hour, with 11 steps up to $25.84 per hour. A battalion chief does better: they start at $39.24 per hour, with 10 steps up to $55.37 per hour. They all work 60-hour weeks.

Because at any given time there's only one firefighter, responding to calls is a challenge.

International Association of Firefighters local 5032 Union President Scott Jean has worked with the department since 2000. Before that, he was a volunteer for 11 years. He spoke in his capacity with the union in a May interview.

Because of Occupational Safety Health Administration's "two-in, two-out" law, fire personnel can't enter a dangerous situation in a fire or rescue incident alone and must wait for other agencies to help respond, for firefighter safety. Jean said the delay can affect the outcome of a call, and affects the department's Insurance Service Office rating. Response time, access to water and staffing play a role in the rating, which ranges from 10 to 1 with 1 being the best. Jean said the department's rating has dropped from a 3.5 to

a 4.

"If we had staffing and more equipment, our ratings would be better, which would save the public on every insured property," Jean said.

He too noted a rise in injuries because firefighters are responding to calls alone. While they can't enter a building, a firefighter can pull the hose and water from the outside, he said. Lifting patients and carrying a fire hose takes a toll on their bodies.

An "aged and ailing" fleet is another problem, Shalowitz said, with an annual cost of repairs around $150,000.

The first-out pumper engine at the Live Oak station is a 1990 model, and the frontline service engine at the Sutter station is actually a 2002 reserve -- or backup -- not designed to be the main engine, Jean said. There are no reserve engines, so if another breaks down they will have to turn to a water tender, which isn't designed for vehicle or structure fires.

The department has two refurbished wildland trucks from 1978 and 1990, and bought two newer ones in the early 2000s.

"Most firefighters are younger than our equipment," Jean said.

Fight to stay open

Shalowitz said his immediate needs include funding four positions (at $119,000 per position), and two structural engines at $560,000 each, just to get the department to a level where it can adequately serve its area.

Jean said the deficiencies within the department have affected personnel: injuries, low morale and the workload stress not only affect the firefighters, but make recruiting a difficult task.

"I would say that if any other agency was running this way, the responsibility shouldn't lie with the employees, it should rely on the county to take responsibility," Jean said. "The county demands better, they deserve better. But the employees also deserve better."

Mitnick agrees, saying personnel should be making substantially more money than they do. But with its own financial woes, the county contends it can't do much more than help in the process of seeking alternative funding.

"He's right, there's a challenge," Mitnick said. "We're looking at the mountain with them."

Shalowitz said he's appreciative of the volunteers and the automatic and mutual aid from other agencies, but the county as a whole -- management and constituents -- needs to take a deep look at public services and make sure infrastructure is up to par with neighboring agencies.

Shalowitz said although residents won't like the idea of a special fire tax increase (and they don't do well on the ballot, he added), the cost increase covers only what he's asking for, which is two personnel on an engine and updated vehicles. After working with a consultant, he plans to host public meetings so the community is aware of the situation and the next steps.

"The word is dire," he said of the situation. "Trying to make it work and trying to be fiscally responsible hasn't worked, which is why we're turning to the public for support."

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