EUREKA CITY COUNCIL AND HUMBOLDT BAY FIRE APPROVE CONSOLIDATION AGREEMENT

After a 14-month long process, the City of Eureka and Humboldt Bay Fire have come to an agreement to combine the district and city fire stations.
 
"Consolidation has been talked about for 60 years,” Chief Ken Woods said. “It's never gotten to this point."   
 
The district’s two stations, and the city’s three stations will become Humboldt Bay Fire Authority.
 
“That will be a joint venture between the city of Eureka and Humboldt Bay Fire No. 1," Eureka City Manager David Tyson said.
 
The Eureka City Council approved the Joint Power Authority Agreement at Tuesday’s meeting, while the Humboldt Bay Fire Board approved it last week.  
 
"Operationally what it means now is we can pull from a larger number of resources," Woods said.
 
That includes pulling drivers, and officers—among other resources.
 
"For instance on the city side, we have a truck company, and on the district side we have a water tender,” Woods said. “So now we can use those and put them in stations where they're the most effective."
 
Tyson said that it was a good move from a financial standpoint, as well.
 
"Through the coordination of the district and the city, we'll see maintenance and services even with tight budgets in the future," Tyson said.
 
Woods said the look will remain for the most part, but the new colors will be black and red.
 
Everything will be finalized once the final step is complete.  
 
“So it's just a matter now of getting the signatures on the paper and moving the agency forward," Tyson said.