1.5K
Yesterday’s Kirker Pass Fire burned nearly 500 acres and shut down the road from 1:15 pm until about 3:00 am.
As of 4:00 pm Monday, Kirker Pass Road was closed south of Castlewood Drive and into Concord as a result of a grass fire that had burned over 150 acres and is 50% contained.
It was then reported that the blaze was fully contained by 6:45 and hit three-alarm status. Three buildings were lost which were labeled as sheds or barns.
Photo courtesy of Scott Murphy.
22 comments
Stay safe out there!
Between this fire and two major vegetation fires in ECCFPD area, ECCFPD, CONFIRE, CDF, EBRPD and others have been stretched further than I have ever seen before. Major areas of both districts were hardly covered at times during afternoon. At this time, many engines are still far from their home stations.
I would suggest you ask your friend on the board how a 2-station model would work under today’s scenario!
It’s simple. It wouldn’t.
This is why there should be an elected board of fire commissioners. The public could judge their individual value, experience, ideas and VOTE accordingly. When the governing board was transferred from the board of supervisors, this was supposed to have taken place. Until it occurs, we will fail to move ahead. So simple, but yet lost on those who want to make a difference. Moving to an elected board of commissioners would likely cause the incumbents to lose their seats. It’s a catch 22 and a move they are not willing to make. Why would they? So basically, we are screwed.
So far we have seen individuals with a lot of desire, but little institutial knowledge. It’s a recipe for failure which they prove every week. I don’t hold it against them-they don’t know any better and mainly lack experience. The facts and timelines speak for themselves. It’s beyond opinion at this point…….it’s fact, and not up for debate…..and we, the citizens are paying the price.
I don’t have to. I don’t believe any Board Member thinks that anything less than the current 5-station model is acceptable at *any* time under *any* circumstances. That model is thin enough as it is.
Researching a service model is not the same as advocating it. Absent any major funding change, after November 2014 we can only afford a 2- or 3-station model (most likely 3). Everyone knows we are going to have to try again with a Parcel Tax measure in 2014. This will require a 2/3 supermajority, a *huge* hurdle; it has rarely been achieved, and then only in a tight-knit community. I am very aware of every opposition argument used against us and working on ways to counter them. One was that the Board at that time was bluffing; that the cuts would not take place. We need to show a fully worked-out service model and associated budget for living within our current income less the FEMA grant as well as a service model and proposed budget for the Parcel Tax we present.
To have a realistic chance, we will need the agreement, however reluctant, of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association and the Times Editorial Board as well as Local 1230. For the first two, the Board will have to demonstrate that all alternatives have been carefully considered, and that we have the needed institutional knowledge. After that, it is going to require one heck of a community-based campaign.
You are off your rocker if you think the Times or the CCTPA is going to support you. Apparently you learned nothing from 2012 and are doomed to repeat that mistake in 2014. At our expense.
The Times and the CCTPA are basically Tea Party mentality, where disposing of government jobs and pensions and privatizing is their end game. Government is about delivery of services. The CCTPA is for all intents anti-government. The problem should be obvious. Why you are wasting your time looking for a pat on the head from those people is beyond me.
This district was tasked by LAFCO with 2 things when you were given dependent special district status. To secure a stable revenue stream that would support adequate services and to get elected officials so you could have INdependent special district status. You already blew it on the electeds part and now you appear to be inept on how to get back to the ballot box before the money runs out on the grant.
The district will not even be able to afford a 3/0 station scenario with current property values. The writing on the wall could not be clearer and this board continues to acted paralyzed or like they have all the time in the world.
The fact that you would even float a 2 station model and in the next paragraph say we need a broad community based campaign? I’m guessing you’re not a Dale Carnegie student of how to win friends and influence people.
Explain to me why we are supposed to go shoulder to shoulder with you knowing full well you intend to knife us in the back if it doesn’t succeed.
I await with interest any alternative plan you would like to propose.
Steve Smith,
Fair enough to wait for his proposal, I am still waiting on one from CoCo Tax or the Times Editorial Board.
Quick question, I am curious, do you know the figure for a parcel tax that would keep services in tact of what we are currently using right this minute with the grant? A 5-station 3 man crew model? What is the number it would take on a future parcel tax. Is it $75, $100, $150? $200?
Burk,
I am personally hopeful for a figure around $100 or less. As to time frame, my preference would be for a long enough time for the current County EMS and Fire studies to be completed and assimilated, and the 2014 LAFCO Fire and EMS Municipal Service Review completed.
Unfortunately, I do not see how we can reasonably comply with the current Civil Grand Jury recommendation that no tax measures be submitted until all studies are complete. Our voters deserve one more clear choice in June of next year between continuing the current service model or a disasterous cutback.
Several fires today. Hope this will demonstrate how shallow our resources really are. With a station in Pittsburg set to close we are facing a long summer with even more risk.
If automatic aid/mutual aid get interrupted we are going to be in a world of hurt.
I haven’t heard Dan Boringstein of the CC times, Kris Hunt of the taxpayers club or the local town crier Dave Roberts yapping much lately. Maybe they realized he dished out some really piss poor advice.
Because the fire departments are busy doesn’t mean that we need to pay extra. We do not get a rebate when they watch TV or cruise over to starbucks. Overpaid and overpriced fire services are the direct result of weak minded supervisors who cater to special interest rather than the voters.
Remember that next time you vote.
Davesbrother59…. I am taken back by your comment…..do you realize that our district was stretched so thin today that every available unit was on calls? That means that had your son or daughter or wife or any loved one God forbid was in harms way….maybe a car accident with life threatening injuries & needed to be extricated they would have had to wait until a unit from concord could arrive…wasting valuable time. in fact there was a stabbing in antioch this afternoon & they had to call in a unit from concord. Of course they are not busy every second of every day. Yes they go to the grocery store & yes maybe grab some coffee….but guess what….they are away from their families for 2-4 full days & nights every week. They miss birthdays, christmas, holidays, graduations, etc because they are at the station waiting for your family member to be hurt or for your house to catch on fire so they can come and save/rescue. You think they are overpaid? Tell me how much someone would have to pay YOU to run into a burning building and risk your own life to save someone else? How much would you have to paid to pick up body parts off a freeway or pull charred bodies from a car? How much would someone have to pay you to deal with the memories of the most horrific calls for the rest of your life….thIngs NO ONE should ever have to see? Maybe think twice about what these men & woman do before you say they are overpaid. I for one would happily pay a couple extra dollars on my taxes to make sure that our stations stay open & available so that when days like today happen & if my children (or one of your loved ones) had an emergency that there was an available unit to assist immediately.
You should maybe borrow the cahones back from the wife and use your real name if you plan to talk like that.
Does your insurance company send you a rebate if you didn’t total your car last month?
Didn’t think so.
I’m assuming your real name is JigsUp??????
Try to keep up, Jason. I’m not the one attacking public safety expecting a handout.
Davesbrother is a known commodity. A whiner, a loudmouth, a pathological liar, voted Mr. D-Bag in 2012 and is currently leading the pool for most likely to be served a restraining order in 2013. Who else throws on a muscle shirt to cruise the aisles of Safeway to flirt with the ladies but a pretty boy with an ego bigger than the SUV he drives?
We won’t even get into the internet stalking stuff because that’s left for the professionals to sort out later. That clown has more aliases on this site than he has underwear in his drawers at home. Talks a big threatening story, but then you meet him and realize he’s just a height challenged bully who like most of them is trying to compensate for this shortcomings(pun intended).
You want to defend that garbage, knock yourself out. Or maybe just throw up your last name and find out for yourself whether the stalking stuff is a line or not.
The point here was the shallow nature of fire coverage in East County and the extents to which they are overworked in very trying weather conditions. Coupled with the tragedy in Arizona this week, I find your timing for defending an idiot over the vital nature of our fire resources a bit odd.
Oops I realized it after I wrote it and didn’t see an easy way to correct it so just let it fly. I agree with you thought you were talking about the comment before his written by ECV somehow skipped right over Davesbros. but really Mr. D-Bag I think I know a few of the runner-ups
@ Jason,
JigsUp wasn’t ranting…..(Daves brother was). Jigs simply interjected the fact that the fire department works like insurance. You don’t get a rebate on the days that you don’t use it. It’s very simple. The problem here is not anonymity, but moreover that some people have issues with reality. This brings us to Daves brother…
You see the reality is that “Daves brother” aka ECVsbrother, aka Smelt lover, aka “insert name here” is just crying over the fact that he has been rejected. The supervisors quickly realized his “shortcomings” and removed him. It’s no secret in east county, just ask around. That is what I did. He is stuck trying to get even and this is the best he can muster. It’s laughable! That’s why his posts make no sense.
@ Davsbrother,
Johnny, Johnnny, Johnnnny are things really that slow in Knightsen? The heat must be baking your little pea brain! What’s wrong little troll, are you tired of posting as “ECVs brother”, “no new tax man”, “joe firefighter captain” or your most recent effort; “smeltlover”? The only one you are fooling is yourself.
Don’t ‘cha know everyone in this blog is on to you? You can post under any one of your made up names and we all still know its you! You see John, you can post, whine and rant but you cant hide. Your stupidity,anger and most of all your chronic frustration shows up each and every time. (Face it buddy you’re just not very bright).
Now Johnny, don’t you have some farm animals to tend to? Or some “No on measure S”-(fire tax) signs to retrieve?
We get it. You don’t want to pay taxes. You don’t want to pay your fair share. You are jealous of firefighters. You don’t understand democracy. You can’t understand why people don’t listen to you. And worst of all you haven’t figured out that you only have yourself to blame. Wake up buddy.
PS. @ Denise; don’t bother with trying to talk logic to the troll….he is just butt hurt because he couldn’t make the cut to be a real fireman. He has had his ass handed to him a couple of times! Just mention his name and folks roll their eyes…..He’s simply too dumb to comprehend.
DavesBrother fiddy nine,
Hey ‘lil bro is that you? It sure sounds like you, with all that nonsense you are spewin! What’s wrong ‘lil bro, cat got your nut?
So let me get this straight, you think our local fire fignters should be working for the likes of you 24/7? No rest, no breaks, just “busy work” between emergencies? If not, they owe you money? That’s what you are implying right??? Bro, you got issues….
You driveled something along the lines that they are over paid. Wait, what??? Did you say overpaid? Come on bro, that’s crazy talk! Do you even know what these people make per year? Are you aware that they are the lowest paid in their profession and on their salary many cannot afford to even live here? So what exactly is it you suggest, sweatshop wages? Pay these people in gift cards? You blame this all on the county board of supervisors? Lets see, maybe because they all get a huge kickback from underpaying this small, understaffed, overworked fire district? Now that’s funny!
How long did it take you to invent that bassackwards scenario? You must have been whacked something fierce with an idiot stick.
It’s time for you to crawl back into that hole you emerged from.
You won’t be missed. (Except for the entertainment value of demonstrating what batshit crazy looks like).
Thanks for the glimpse.
Davebro
Firefighters are special interest? I always thought of them as the good guys. Please explain how they get the weak supervisors? to cater to their special interests. What r their special interest? You have me confused with you’re acusattions.
I would rather pay them while they watch TV or having a well deserved Starbucks and have the comfort of knowing they are there when we need them! They have life-risking jobs..that is clearly apparent after what happened in Arizona!! We are so willing to pay sports figures millions of dollars to play a game but we don’t want to spend an extra dime for those risking their lives to save others! Shame on some people!
cme,
I agree! It should be noted that the majority of people in central county also agree. Sadly the voter threshold is a supermajority (66 percent). This is one case of many where the minority vote holds the majority hostage. It’s a shame.
Comments are closed.