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Issues ----> Fire Cost ----> Public Safety ----> Fire Suppression ----> Fire Prevention .
Fire Cost The reality of life is that all communities have some kind of a fire department or district that provides a variety of local services. The question to ask is what level of fire protection service is needed for Incline Village and Crystal Bay? I believe a majority of the local residence will answer that the level is about right, while many will argue that our fire district’s budget is bloated above what other fire districts or departments spend. As a candidate for the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District’s Board, I agree with the majority of the residents that we have one of the best local fire districts around Lake Tahoe. I also agree that WE need to take a closer look at their expenses. About a year ago, I asked Jim Linardos, our Fire Chief, a theoretical question. If the board were to cut a million dollars from your budget, where you would make the cuts? His answer: “I would give the board a series of options on where to make the cuts, and then the board will have to make the final decisions.” “The Fire Board is our boss and we serve at the pleasure of the Fire Board,” said Linardos. The same would apply to future increased expenses. The fire district’s budget grew almost 100% in the last 5 years. So what if the board decides not to increase the budget in the next 5 years. Due to inflation, rising medical benefits, rising salaries and other expenses, the board will have decide what services could be reduced to hold the budget flat. If elected to the Fire Board, I will do my best to completely evaluate the trade offs between the superior service that has been provided in the past versus what the local community is willing to pay for through our local taxes. Being Fire Safe and Creation of Defensible Space As a member of the Incline Fire Safe Council, the Nevada Fire Safe Council and the local Neighbors for Defensible Space (NDS II), I have attended many meetings discussing how to make our community and Lake Tahoe MORE Fire Safe. I have also attended many of the Fire District’s internal meetings discussing defensible space. I also did all day booth duty at the Fire District’s open house on June 7th. What have I learned from all these meetings? Someday there will be a major fire in and/or near our community. The only question is how much fire damage will occur from a wildland fire? Will any lives be lost? How many structures are destroyed? How long will it take for our beautiful forest and ground vegetation to rejuvenate itself? By doing a excellent job of fuels management around our community and by making our own personal property defensible, WE can define the type and intensity of the fire. We can minimize the fire damage. I would also like to point out that there is no guarantee that if we as a community and fire district do all the right things with proper fuels management, there will be no major fire. As a candidate for the Fire District’s Board, I fully support the Slide Mountain Crew’s effort in reducing the fuel around our village. I also support the fire district’s effort to evaluation each and every property for proper levels of defensible space. Basin Wide Interface I will also support working with all the Tahoe Basin Government Agencies to cooperate in fire suppression and assisting in their efforts to reduce their fuel loads as well. The more fire safe they are, the less chance their fire will come to our village. Our fire district is the leader in this effort. The few extra hours per year spent working with other fire districts and all the government agencies who manage public property in and surrounding our village will significantly reduce the threat and level of a wildland fire. Fire District Communications Overall I feel our Fire District does a good job communicating with our village about fire safety, public safety, fire suppression and the creation of defensible space. There is room for improvement on their website and better interface with IVGID. We are one community but have two very independent organizations (IVGID and the NLTFPD) providing extremely important services to our village. Over time, this interface could be improved upon. In conclusion: I will do my best to provide direction and support to our Fire District that meets the needs and expectations of residence and property owners of Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Sincerely, Wayne Wayne Fischer |