Peninsula Community Association

Samoa Peninsula Volunteer Fire Department News

These documents were submitted by Kary Schlick, Manila resident

Update 12 September 2007 by Kary Schlick:

Arcata Fire Protection Districts (AFPD) immediate termination of an Automatic Aid Agreement (AAA is basically a Memo of Understanding MOU) with Samoa Peninsula Fire District (SPFD).

Following the termination on Aug 28, 07 the AFPD initiated a meeting on Sept. 4, 07 with the peninsula’s business owners in effort to create a private contract to incorporate them into their district at the cost of ~$100,000 a year for protection by AFPD.

Facts for your consideration:
› AFPD did not invite SPFD to this recent meeting, but NOAA did and SPFD attended (see attached document SPFD-Notes_090407-AFD_meeting.doc of notes taken by SPFD).
› MOU within Humboldt Co already exists between rescue services.
› SPFD works with peninsula businesses to meet their needs with minimal financial burden (see attached document SPFD_Mission_07.doc SPFD_07_Plan.doc of SPFD strategic plan 2007).
› Manila is within AFPD and each home owner pays ~$140/yr and SPFD residents pay $40/year.
› Manila was never made aware of the termination of this 10 year AAA with SPFD.
› AFPD has over 2000 parcels while SPFD has 261 and the largest industrial area.
› AFD responds primarily to fire/rescue calls only
› SPFD to Manila emergencies has a 5:1 response over AFD that is for every 5 responses by SPFD there is 1 response by AFD (see attached document SPFD_Mission_07.doc of SPFD Mission Statement with figures).
› SPFD has a proven working relationship with Manila, including such benefits to Manila as:
o Grants include Manila community safety development, awareness and children’s programs.
o Last week SPFD grant request for new and improved radios was awarded.
o Routine training & presences in Manila increases their knowledge of fire hydrant locality, street names and residential attributes.
· Manilian’s life was saved perhaps because of this: recently SPFD took the lead to the remote street with AFD and Mad River Ambulance in tow to a suicide attempt. The response time saved her life. AFD said they were grateful the PFD was in the lead because they would have never found it on first attempt.

AFD Chief John McFarland needs to hear from you and so does his Board President John Davis.
631 9th St, Arcata
(707) 825-2000
email @ slindke@arcatafire.org
website @ arcatafire.org

Manilian’s are encouraged a provide a strong showing of concerned residents by attending the Arcata City Meeting on Sept 18, 07 @ 7 pm.


Previous Update 31 August 2007
· The Samoa Peninsula Fire District has always enjoyed a good working relationship with the community of Manila.
· Automatic Aid Agreement means that both fire district’s respond to calls without delay.
· Samoa Peninsula Fire Protection District and Arcata Fire Protection District had an Automatic Aid Agreement in place from May 15, 1997-August 28, 2007.
· Under the Auto-Aid Agreement the Samoa Peninsula Fire District responded to 98% of all medical and fire calls in Manila.
· Under the Auto-Aid Agreement Arcata Fire District responded to 99% of all fire calls in Samoa/Fairhaven.
· Samoa Peninsula has responded many more times to Manila over the 10 year period compared to Arcata responding to Samoa because the SPFD responded to medical and fire calls whereas Arcata only responded to fire calls.
· Arcata Fire District cancelled our Automatic Aid Agreement this week effective immediately and without notice.
· Did Arcata Fire District contact the community of Manila to find out if they agree to not having Samoa Fire District respond to any call for help?
· The Samoa Peninsula Fire District Board has invited Arcata Fire District to attend an open Board Meeting at the Samoa Fire Station, located at 1982 Gass Street in Fairhaven on September 5, 2007 at 7:00 PM to discuss the Automatic Aid Agreement. County Supervisors for both districts have also been invited to attend this meeting.
· Please email Noreen O’Brien at samoapen@suddenlink.net if you have any questions.

Notes about the issue

Arcata Fire District hosted a meeting on September 4th, yesterday, between Arcata Fire District, the Peninsula Business owner, and a committee from our district (I’m not sure how we were invited as it never came through our office).

Chief McFarland presented an option to the business owners for fire protection on the Samoa Peninsula, our fire district. The plan he presented was for a contract between AFD and the business owners. The estimated cost of the plan was about $50,000.00 per year plus addition monies per call. AFD is willing to invest more time into calculating what the actual cost may be if a contract is a possibility.

Some of the claims made by AFD:
· SPFD volunteers stopped attending AFD’s training (implying we don’t train)
· AFD claimed we did not participate in their mini academy (not true)
· SPFD doesn’t respond (the run reports prove differently)
· AFD spends too much money responding to our calls
· AFD feels they are providing free fire services to the SPFD with no reciprocation

Mutual Aid vs. Auto Aid was explained to the business owners. Budgets and Revenues were discussed briefly. AFD recently passed a benefit assessment. SPFD stated that we had considered an increased of our special tax monies but did not want to add a financial burden to our new business owners before they have time to become established. SPFD stated efforts we have worked on over the past 1-2 years, more volunteers, better training, etc. The poor dispatch services both districts are receiving from Arcata PD were discussed. The business owners were invited to the SPFD Board Meeting on September 5th at 7:00 PM.

It was decided that our committee would meet together and look at what might work better for both districts. AFD refuses to attend our board meeting (via a letter from Chief McFarland and John Davis, AFD Board President). AFD invited us to bring a plan back to their board for consideration. They also agreed to continue with our auto aid agreement until September 18th of this month.


The chart below shows the SPFD calls for the past 4 years and all the calls this year through last week.

YEAR 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
CALLS 106 74 69 86 45
SPFD-AFD 38 37 22 35 21
AFD-SPFD 14 9 8 7 13
SPFD No Response 1 4 3 3
ARD No Response 2

· The first line shows the year
· The second line shows the amount of calls that the SPFD responded to Arcata District (Manila)
· The next line shows how many times AFD has responded to SPFD calls
· The next line shows how many calls the SPFD had no response
· The last line shows how many times the AFD had no response (once was in their own district and once was a call to for district)