Imperial County Fire Department gets much needed funding

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif.- The Board of Supervisors approved additional funding for the Imperial County Fire Department during today's regularly scheduled meeting.

Several members of the public and the firefighters union spoke during public comments, urging the board to take action and vote on more funding for the department.

The firefighters will now have additional funding they need for more staff and equipment to the tune of over $1.2 million total for overtime.

Before the vote, the firefighters pled their case.

"How are we still talking and doing the same process over and over again?" asked Timothy Morales, a fire fighter with the department. The department had been fighting for more staff and funding for several years.

"It's like bad business. It's like we haven't learned from the mechanic that tells us our car's fixed, but we keep on going back to the same mechanic because it keeps breaking down," he said.

Following the meeting, I spoke with members of the department who were grateful they now have funding to fill 14 vacant positions.

"So all of us are really excited. We're happy," said Daniel Martinez, President of the Imperial County Firefighter's Association.

"We need the workforce to grow and get back to our normal level, which is gonna give us the relief and the rest that we need. So I know a lot of them are happy about that," Martinez said.

He added, "I was informed by one of the supervisors that our hiring process is gonna be expedited. It's normally a five-month process, but since we're so low in numbers, it's gonna be expedited."

The board also approved funding for PPE, clothing, and necessities for the firefighters, who say relief is in sight.

"It's gonna take us a couple of months to get to that point where we know for sure that we're gonna be going home after every shift. Right now, it's important for us to keep each other motivated and just know that we do have a a light at the end of the tunnel," Martinez explained.

The supervisors reiterated their support for the firefighters who put their lives on the line every day.

Supervisor John Hawk said, "I would just say that I think that all of us as supervisors stand with the fire department."

"The 7 1/2 years that I humbly served on this board, I've supported the department 100 percent," Supervisor Jesus Escobar said.

Ryan Kelley spoke, stating, "I would like to see us give full attention that we need to to the fire department."