The Southern Inyo Fire Protection District (SIFPD) board convened to address long-term planning efforts on March 13, including recruitment efforts and two key fire station projects in the works.
One project involves a new station in Tecopa Heights, while the other focuses on a new substation in Charleston View. Both projects have received grant funding from the federal government and Inyo County, but have been hindered by a lack of clarity on how the funding may be spent and BLM’s slow process of providing a lease for the Tecopa Heights station to begin building.
Addressing the Volunteer Shortage
Recruitment efforts at the SIFPD were a key topic of discussion, especially with the news that firefighter Larry Levy is now off the roster. The department faces a critical shortage of personnel, with only a handful of volunteers actively responding to emergencies. During the meeting, it was revealed that two new volunteer applicants, local brewer Dan and Steaks and Beer server Ruel, had recently submitted their interest in joining as firefighter EMTs, marking a positive step in addressing staffing concerns. However, challenges remain in training new recruits, with discussions centering on options such as local EMT certification courses versus an intensive two-week training program at Unitek College, which comes at a cost of over $7,000 per person.
The board also explored creative solutions for attracting and retaining volunteers, starting with a pledge contract and ceremony, and potential housing arrangements within the new fire station and incentives like temporary lodging for visiting responders. The urgency of the situation was underscored by concerns over the district’s ability to maintain emergency services should current volunteers retire or relocate. Moving forward, SIFPD aims to formalize recruitment requirements and marketing materials to streamline onboarding processes and ensure sustainability in its emergency response capabilities, but for now the volunteer situation remains dire.
Two Firehouse Projects
SIFPD is currently pursuing two critical infrastructure projects to meet the district’s growing emergency response needs, covering 1250 square miles.
The first is a new station building in Tecopa Heights, which will be housed at an existing site (pictured) that includes the water kiosk and a building known as the “Dairy Queen” (apparently, for its shingles) that will need significant updates to become an office.
“You put an ice cream machine in there, you might get more volunteers,” remarked Dan.
Progress has been made on the Tecopa Heights station, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in process of issuing a lease to SIFPD. This lease is essential for securing building grants, and the board is pushing for its finalization.
The second project is a new substation in Charleston View, which may potentially be shared with BLM Fire or CAL FIRE, though no plans are currently in place.
Both building projects will be managed by Inyo County. The new stations will include housing facilities for firefighters and EMT personnel, a key consideration in the district’s recruitment planning. Especially important is having personnel consistently on site in Charleston View, as board members referred to the location’s potential for theft.
Uncertain Funding and Project Management
The board raised alarms over the county’s project management for the substations, a crucial role typically responsible for managing budgeting, timelines, and construction logistics. The county has opted to manage the project internally as part of its matching contribution to SIFPD’s grants. However, this internal approach has led to accusations that SIFPD is being forced to work on “county time.”
Despite ongoing discussions, board members expressed frustration over the lack of transparency on how the funds may be allocated. With no clear financial records in hand, the board is left unsure how the public money may be used.
“They should have released the budget by now,” said Spencer McNeal, a board member, referencing the two-year deadline to allocate the $2 million in public funding. “And then like two years is going to go by, and you know, like, nothing’s going to get done.”
McNeal voiced further concerns about how resources have been allocated: “For them, it’s better to have [the county] have a bunch of people do a bunch of things and bill a bunch of hours.”
McNeal’s comments highlighted the board’s fear that without proactive oversight on their part, the projects could remain stalled indefinitely. “We have no choice but to just let them [project manage]. But if nothing’s getting done, then someone has to be accountable.”
Without an independent project manager overseeing the budget and operations, he pointed out, there is little accountability for SIFPD regarding how funds are being used.
Need for a Dedicated Project Liaison
The board discussed appointing a dedicated liaison to ensure proper oversight, with some members suggesting that one of them take on the role of project manager.
“If we are getting somebody from the county in on our meetings, our regular planning meetings…we’re pushing ourselves back up to the top of the pile and getting confirmation or answers to questions,” said Robin Flinchum, board chair, emphasizing the importance of staying engaged in the process.
Eliza Woodall, another board member, agreed. “Would it make sense for a board member to take charge of overseeing this project? If we don’t stay on top of things, it could easily fall through the cracks.”
McNeal’s passion for project management seemed to fizzle, though he might be the most qualified, and least busy, member of the board to take on the work.
Despite the consensus on the need for better oversight, there were concerns about overloading one individual. “We can’t just place this entirely on the fire chief,” Flinchum remarked, acknowledging that the board is ultimately responsible for ensuring the projects move forward.
“I can be the board project manager liaison,” she followed up, stepping forward to take on the responsibility.
Rising Costs and Urgency
Board members also voiced growing concerns over rising construction costs, particularly for materials like steel, due to the recent implementation of tariffs on America’s foreign trade partners.
Bill Lutz, SIFPD fire chief, also highlighted challenges with contractors, noting the differences in pricing for licensed contractors between Nevada and California. “Quite frankly, if we have to haul concrete out of Barstow or someplace, it’s going to be absolutely ridiculous.”
“There’s some issues, you know, contractor issues, licensing, Nevada versus California licensing,” he said. “And obviously it’d be cheaper to have Nevada contractors do it than it would be for the California contractors.”
Potential Conflicts of Interest
It was mentioned by the board that Cynthia Kienitz, a local entrepreneur and the founder of Firehouse Friends, offered to serve as the project manager for the Dairy Queen renovation project. However, her involvement raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, as her son is a contractor. Flinchum stated that Kienitz will solicit a bid solely from him for the construction.
Although no accusations of impropriety were made, other board members stressed the importance of transparency and potentially having a competitive bidding process to ensure fairness. Without an open and competitive process, there could be scrutiny over whether contracts are awarded based on merit or personal relationships. However, the board did not yet consider the potential for conflicts of interest to arise or offer a public request for proposal.
Conclusion
While the SIFPD board remains committed to ensuring that both firehouse projects move forward efficiently, bureaucratic obstacles, financial uncertainties, and leadership gaps continue to hinder progress. While small steps have been made in recruitment and oversight, the delays in funding allocation and project management underscore the need for stronger accountability and proactive leadership. With rising costs and looming deadlines, the board must take immediate action to prevent these critical infrastructure projects from stalling indefinitely.
The next long term planning meeting is open to the public and will take place at the Tecopa Community Center on April 3, though check your local listings as the time at publication is uncertain – it will start at either 4pm or 6pm.