Proudly Since 1873
City of Merced – Merced County
Aid Agreement Update
City of Merced Fire Department
Fire and EMS Aid Agreement
• Provide history on previous council direction regarding automatic aid to Merced County.
• Provide council with an update regarding discussions and options explored with Merced County.
Proudly Since 1873
McKee Fire Station Closure
• Merced County closure of Station 85 to consolidate staffing and meet the states mandated requirement of 2 personnel per apparatus. (Effective Jan. 1, 2025)
• Merced County staff request our assistance in providing fire coverage to County jurisdiction generally located North of Hwy 140, West of Kibby Road, West of N. Lake Road, and East of G Street via automatic aid agreement
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What are the types of aid Fire
Departments use?
• Mutual Aid
• Assistance agreement between jurisdictions to provide services upon request on a case-by-case basis.
• Auto Aid
• Assistance automatically by contractual agreement between two communities to emergency incident.
• Service Contracts
• One jurisdiction assumes all service needs for a defined area.
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Fire and EMS Aid Agreement
• Reciprocal Automatic Aid Agreement
• Prior council considerations 5/6/2024 – Not Supported Proudly Since 1873
Fire and EMS Aid Agreement
• Prior council considerations
• Service Agreement – Council direction
was to explore service agreement
options. (5/6/24 Council meeting)
• City of Merced provides service to the
unincorporated area of North and
Northeast of the City of Merced for a
fee to recover cost of service.
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Fire and EMS Aid Agreement – Options
Considered
• Fee for service per incident
• Hourly based fee for service
• Partnership approach for staffing of
Squad 53
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Current Distribution based on 2023 Data using a
4-minute travel time
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• Partnership approach for staffing of Squad 53
provides benefit for the City adding capacity for
response in North Merced.
• Squad 53 will also support additional calls for
service generated by the recent annexation of UC
Merced.
Fire and EMS Aid Agreement – Aid
Impacts
• 2023 Data Indicates 417 calls for
service in this area.
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Fire and EMS Aid Agreement –
Responsibility
• EMS response
• Initial response
• Incident stabilization
• Merced County would assume incident command
responsibly upon their arrival for fire incidents
• Merced County Fire would retain prevention and
investigation responsibility
• Collaborative approach – City does not have the
equipment to assume full responsibility of this area
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Fire and EMS Aid Agreement
• Automatic Aid Map
• 1/3 of personnel staffing cost for
Squad 53
• Term – Expire 12/2026 to align with
SAFER staffing expiration
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Staff Recommendation
• Staff will continue conversations with Merced County and bring back a fair and equitable aid agreement that will enhance partnerships with Merced County and ensure a high level of fire protection and EMS service is maintained.
Proudly Since 1873
Proudly Since 1873
Questions?
City of Merced Fire Department