| | Published May 8th, 2013
| Lamorinda Fire News Briefs
| | By Nick Marnell | | |
Moraga-Orinda Joint Council Meeting
Fire Chief Randall Bradley presented an overview of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District at a joint meeting of the Moraga Town Council and Orinda City Council held April 29 in Orinda.
Bradley outlined the district's long-range financial plan, which shows MOFD debt cleared within 15 years, based largely on a 4 percent annual property tax increase and a favorably-negotiated union contract. Labor negotiations resumed in March; MOFD firefighters have worked without a contract since 2011.
Orinda council member Victoria Smith asked Bradley about his plan to lower response times in Sleepy Hollow. "I believe the answer for Sleepy Hollow is to move our station 45 toward Miner Road and put it either near the intersection of Camino Pablo and Miner, or in the area near the country club. But that's about 10 years out," he said. "It's hard to just move fire stations."
Bradley said that he is still in favor of the joint venture with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to build and operate a new fire station 46 on Lorinda Lane in Lafayette, despite mixed support from his board.
Moraga Mayor Dave Trotter said station 46 should be staffed and operated by MOFD. He warned that reducing staff at Lafayette station 17 to help fund the consolidation would become a problem for Moraga.
"Lamorinda needs to be managed by a single fire service," stated Trotter.
Early Red Flag Warning
The National Weather Service issued the first Red Flag Warning of 2013 for the Lamorinda area on April 30. "We can't recall a Red Flag Warning occurring any earlier than this in at least 15 years," said Austin Cross of the NWS.
Moraga-Orinda Fire District chief Randall Bradley stated he is very concerned about wildfires this year due to the lack of rainfall, higher than normal temperatures and an abundance of dry vegetation, and that he staffed additional firefighters and equipment for the Red Flag Warning period.
"During the actual Red Flag period, it's critical to prevent accidental fires," said Daryl Louder, fire chief of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. He urged caution in using machinery, and working around outside fires and other ignition sources.
ConFire recommends that residents create an adequate defensible space around their homes, and remove dead or dying vegetation from their properties. "The most important time is before the Red Flag period occurs," said Louder.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA