Fire district comparing emergency service quotes

BARSTOW • The Barstow Fire Protection District began reviewing quotes to provide emergency services to the Barstow area Friday.

The Barstow Fire Protection board of directors voted in December to request quotes from the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, and the city. The district set Friday as the deadline for the quotes to be submitted. Division Chief Sal Corrao said that the district received a quote from the county fire department on Thursday and another quote from CAL FIRE on Friday. However, Corrao said the district wasn’t releasing any information about the quotes Friday.

“We just date stamped the quotes as they’ve come in and passed them on to (Chief Darrell Jauss),” Corrao said. “More information should come out next week.”

Jauss was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon, but on Wednesday he said that he expected a quote from the county fire department. Representatives from the county fire department had done a walk through to inventory and assess equipment and buildings earlier in the month, according to Jauss.

Corrao said that the district didn’t receive a quote for service from the city. However, the City Council and the district’s board of directors are expected to have a joint meeting in February. Assistant City Manager Martin Piñon presented a report highlighting five possible alternatives for the city’s involvement with the fire district’s future during a council meeting on January 19.  The City Council and fire district have been looking into partnership ideas since the district sent a letter to the city requesting financial assistance for the creation of a new firefighter/paramedic squad in July.

Corrao said the joint meeting has yet to be scheduled.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4126 or dheldreth@desertdispatch.com