Editorial: Who responds when you call 911?

When you have an emergency and call 911, you’re not concerned about which fire or rescue squad responds, as long help arrives quickly and saves you, your loved ones and your home.  But, while many of us take it for granted that someone will respond, we might not know how much effort it takes and how much it costs to have those emergency responders available for our protection 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sonoma Valley residents have been very fortunate to have outstanding fire and rescue service for many years.  Some of those services are part of Sonoma City Services, others are included in the combined services of what was formerly the Sonoma Fire Department and Valley of the Moon Fire District headquartered in Boyes Hot Springs.

In our easternmost and southernmost areas, the Schell-Vista Fire Department, mostly manned by volunteers, comes to our aid. Glen Ellen and Kenwood are served in a similar way by their districts.

They each have mutual aid arrangements with each other, so in the event of a major fire or other emergency they all can work together

Many courageous and dedicated fellow residents of our Valley make this work.  But times are changing.  Volunteer firefighters are available because their jobs and homes are in their district. As the population ages, jobs move out of the area and homes become more expensive, we cannot assume that there will always be enough people willing and able to step up as volunteers to go through the training and make themselves available the way they have in the past.

That is why there’s a meeting tonight at the Schell-Vista Fire Station on South Broadway (at Fremont Drive).  It is one of 10 such meetings scheduled throughout Sonoma County to create a forum for discussion of the continued maintenance and effectiveness of the many (40) fire districts that primarily serve the unincorporated areas of our county.

The question of consolidation (of districts) will be on the agenda at the request of Schell-Vista Fire Protection District board chairman Ernie Loveless.  There are boundary issues and a willingness on Schell-Vista’s part to take on more areas to protect.  But any expansion for any reason creates other issues, including financial ones.  It is not as simple as just re-drawing the fire district boundaries.

Many of our friends and neighbors are the people we count on to sustain our fire and rescue services.  They shouldn’t have to do it without our appreciation, support and input about what can be done to make things better.

They’re asking for that input.

The meeting is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Schell-Vista Fire Station, 22950 Broadway.  If you live in or near the district, make the time to attend.