County Grants Fire Contract Renewal With CDF

Tuolumne County Supervisors gave approval Tuesday to a new two-year cooperative fire protection contract with the state to provide personnel and management to the county´s fire department.

Assistant County Fire Warden Andy McMurry explains the state fire protection contract has two parts: CDF crews staff and equip county fire stations, such as the Mono Village Station 51 in East Sonora, and the contract also provides county fire protection from California Divison of Forestry and Fire Protection stations and personnel.

McMurry said at 8 a.m. Monday morning, all five CDF fire stations in Tuolumne County were staffed with one fire engine at each station and a CDF helicopter based at Columbia airport.

As of 8 p.m. Monday night, two strike teams, with ten fire engines, were sent to Southern California to aid in wildfire defense there.

McMurry says the shift by state firefighters resources south won´t affect coverage in the Mother Lode. County volunteers and equipments, plus CDF crews from Shasta County will fill in the gaps while local crews are in Southern California.

Peak staffing with 75 firefighters and command personnel is planned in the Tuolumne and Calaveras county area for July 1.