PRESS  RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Date/Time of Occurrence: 04/18/2024, 3 pm

Nature of Occurrence: Fire Boards Accept Annexation Feasibility Study

Location: 501 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, CA 95619

Contact: Fire Captain Jacob Poganski

Phone: (530) 644-9630

Email: pio@eldofire.com

Diamond Springs, Calif. (April 23, 2024) – Directors from Diamond Springs - El Dorado Fire Protection District and El Dorado County Fire Protection District met in a public meeting on Thursday to review and approve an annexation feasibility study. The study specifically looks at the feasibility of combining Diamond Springs – El Dorado Fire Protection District and El Dorado County Fire Protection District into one larger agency. This study is a critical piece necessary to submit to El Dorado County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) in moving forward with an annexation application.

The annexation feasibility study was conducted by Fitch & Associates consultants and identified six key findings:

1. The communities would benefit from the annexation of the two districts.
2.  No staffing cuts or station closures are proposed.
3. Added Battalion Chief would support the community and firefighters with enhanced operational capacity, training, safety and risk reduction.
4. No new facilities are needed. Services will be delivered from existing facilities.
5. Sufficient revenues exist to support joint annexation.
6. Careful consideration should be given to combined UAL and OPEB costs, and to provide sufficient reserves for the new entity.

The study provided information on the agencies, current service delivery, fleet, proposed service plan, financial analysis, disadvantaged community analysis, future growth, and joint annexation performance measures. A copy of the study is available at the district administration office and on the website eldoradocountyfire.com.

Both fire districts have been engaged in formal cooperation discussions since February of 2023. The agencies have been operating under a shared services agreement to share staffing, fire prevention, training, operations, and other roles. In March of 2023 El Dorado County Fire Protection District began staffing a paramedic ambulance, resuming ambulance services in the community, at Diamond Springs Fire Station 49.  In September of 2023 both agencies further cooperated to provide a second duty chief officer – assuring two chief officers are available to respond within both fire districts daily.

As both agencies move forward with LAFCO processes, providing information to the community remains a top priority. Residents are encouraged to regularly visit the website, subscribe to emails and engage with fire district social media.

El Dorado County Fire Protection District provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services in the communities of Placerville, Shingle Springs, Pollock Pines, Camino, Pleasant Valley, Cool, Coloma, Lotus, Pilot Hill, Oak Hill, Strawberry, and Kyburz. Diamond Springs – El Dorado Fire Protection District provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services in the communities of Diamond Springs, El Dorado, Greenstone Country, Log Town, Missouri Flat, and Sleepy Hollow.

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View the Annexation Feasibility Study here: (33.1 MB)