Three things to know about the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District meeting

Board of Fire Commissioners approves scheduling meeting to discuss fire merger issues.

Reno, Nevada. May 19, 2015. The following report highlights important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Fire Commissioners meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Videos of County Commission meetings are replayed regularly on WCTV (Charter Ch. 193). You may also watch videos-on-demand online.

1. Approved meeting to discuss automatic aid and fire merger.

A meeting to discuss automatic aid and fire merger issues with the City of Reno was approved. The Board supports Senate Bill 185 which proposes to mandate automatic aid in the region sending the closest fire engine, regardless of jurisdiction.

Commissioner Kitty Jung (District 3)  said, “ I think this meeting needs to happen sooner rather than later and I’m glad that we are planning items for discussion now to prepare for the meeting next week.”

The meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held in the Washoe County Commission Chambers at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26. 

2. Approved next year’s budget for TMFPD

 The Board of Fire Commissioners for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) and Sierra Fire District (SFD) consolidated operations approved the final budget on Monday, May 18. The total General Fund expenditure is $23.32 million and includes costs to fund paramedic fire engines at all career fire stations.

The budget includes funding to fully staff all career fire stations 100 percent of the time. With Governor Sandoval signing Assembly Bill 333 into law, the Board of Fire Commissioners will consider dissolving the Sierra Fire Protection District in lieu of Truckee Meadows assuming the current Sierra Fire District boundary. Chief Charles Moore said  this change would result in more streamlined funding, operations, administration and public meeting process. 

The budget includes a one-time transfer of $4 million to the Capital Projects Fund for normal capital purchases as well as replacement and upgrades of the District’s two way radios, mobile data terminals, refurbishing of equipment, buildings, and the purchase of equipment for two water tenders. The District also earmarked $5.2 million for funding a replacement fire station and replacement of the logistics warehouse.

The District employs 126 full time employees assisted by 144 volunteers.

3. Volunteer Fire Services will be restructured

The Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved a transition plan for restructuring the Volunteer Fire Services in an effort to increase financial and operational efficiency.

“The plan will shift the volunteer operation from eight separate and autonomous Volunteer Companies and bring the entire volunteer force under management of TMFPD,” said Fire Chief Charlie Moore.

Moore said volunteers are a critical element of their operation and act as a force multiplier, assisting the operation during peak activity and severe weather events.

“These changes will serve to increase volunteer safety and ensure volunteer skills meet national standards,” said Moore.

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