[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6520926,"mediaKeyId","5116078-4c3865c61ef079f5110f0be1bf9aa096","parentId",5116078,"title","Richard J. Edwards sworn in as Truckee Meadows fire chief; outlines priorities including apparatus upgrades and regional study","audioSeconds",5459,"startMs",436000,"endMs",5895000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116078-4c3865c61ef079f5110f0be1bf9aa096&start=436&end=5895","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116078-4c3865c61ef079f5110f0be1bf9aa096/thumbnail_436000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520926/Washoe-County/Nevada/Richard-J-Edwards-sworn-in-as-Truckee-Meadows-fire-chief-outlines-priorities-including-apparatus-upgrades-and-regional-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520926-00861086bab866ecd6021ce3334e6b40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005242&Signature=GchpJckjqiU-sy2lXvwIKDLrB-ucUKDMlS87om9KKjBOFn09Wn~Tpu1uQo7NE-IK1IDeEKHOzlJsONtUTszUWQiylrEtCQ6MeOOeFD50ZtVdkGNiWKWORGsr9YfdOVZSGDS~pAnQos33WVC7gSbtHLnrZ85X-38sHNYEotFCwLp3IriVi~EJnzUZqelYbyuoGkI-40SUrPprMAnn5rGeA1oqVLdwdbKU8FTLgXEGEw1H8HsDopBr3i2HwXiR2ndF92TJG08lb9oxmkbU0xm-Bl7G~VVsDT0L4pvrf7ZwcrMXoO-IoiTR3z7uTqtpkN4yK3jisAXlNYRJpLIqkOm2-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washoe County, NV","date","2025-07-02T06:55:31Z","article","Richard J. Edwards took the oath of office July 1 and addressed the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District board and the public, saying he intends to lead with “integrity, courage and compassion” and will work on operational readiness, regional partnerships and fiscal responsibility.

Edwards’ remarks: Sworn in during the meeting, Edwards thanked his mentors and the Stockton Fire Department where he previously served as chief. He said he will finalize a 180‑day plan after meeting with command staff, administrative teams and crews, and emphasized inclusivity, training and staff welfare.

Operational updates and wildfires: In his chief’s report, Edwards told commissioners the district recently received three battalion chief command vehicles and ordered three new Type 1 engines along with Type 3 and Type 5 wildland engines; apparatus construction and upfitting timelines are affected by national supply‑chain delays. He praised firefighters’ work on the June 10 Marie Fire (about 114 acres) and a separate Lemon Valley fast‑moving fire the week before the meeting. Edwards also reported that an engineer development school—the largest class to date—completed training for apparatus operators.

Legislative note: Edwards briefed the board on Senate Bill 319, signed by the governor on June 13, 2025. SB 319 directs Washoe County, Reno and Sparks to appoint members to a study group to examine creating a county fire protection district; the required study must produce a written report by Dec. 30, 2026. Edwards noted the study group must follow open‑meeting laws and that costs for any contracted study are to be shared by the three participating entities.

Public messaging and outreach: Chief Edwards and union representatives highlighted communication work ahead of the July 4 holiday, including a joint press release with the sheriff’s office reminding residents that recreational fireworks are illegal in Washoe County and that heavy social‑media outreach in English and Spanish will be deployed. The union reported it raised $66,000 in a Reno Rodeo 50/50 raffle and said some funds will support community needs and disaster relief.

Ending: Edwards closed his remarks by saying he is eager to start work on the district’s priorities and meet community members; commissioners welcomed him and discussed next steps on community‑safety issues including West Washoe Valley service concerns.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Fire Commissioners | July 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On his first day, Chief Richard J. Edwards was sworn in July 1 and told the board he will focus on operational readiness, regional partnership and fiscal responsibility; he also reported new apparatus deliveries, recent wind‑driven wildfires and noted state legislation (SB 319) requiring a study on a county fire protection district.","taxTitle","Washoe County, Nevada","taxId",2669,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6520931,"Truckee Meadows board adopts 2025 Washoe County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to preserve FEMA funding eligibility",71,6098000,6169000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116078-4c3865c61ef079f5110f0be1bf9aa096&start=6098&end=6169","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116078-4c3865c61ef079f5110f0be1bf9aa096/thumbnail_6098000.jpg","/articles/6520931/Washoe-County/Nevada/Truckee-Meadows-board-adopts-2025-Washoe-County-Regional-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-to-preserve-FEMA-funding-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520931-a7646817ba8fd3f0b56b4ce1a8cfb265/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005242&Signature=G0selTn3FvOWtjw2WIT-K6dTEvUaAOr5xDgaILASfJhvPIAmp4mxTF7m2HCXThFj8TLcbOvVP5XW7lLLIkqmmZLuDQ6mxTBL0WCpxilk0ueMpIKHVKLm7w2H95cmhZpbhhg075a5yRLezpOSLjATlpexW9qmyd3F3rdI1knC9CwKkfPv2p73FAzqz21HV7wUUFH-73ZmUWhxUnGJnr9Ditj~trFuEsmUXMMdFe9Z5v3VzyVQ23w-kw5o8iaHxhLW7~Eu6-XiildB~GYAH51NXZY9AmFua7RbV2MfjaBN1azqPHyrpit~ifzVati7k3fvkUUDyYonk0ojnW7rmR2pIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously adopted resolution TM09-2025 on July 1 to adopt the 2025 Washoe County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, a five‑year regional update required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for hazard mitigation grant eligibility.

Adoption in brief: The board voted by roll call after a brief presentation. Chair Alexis Hill, Vice Chair Jean Herman and Commissioners Clark, Garcia and Andriola all voted “aye.” No public comment was offered on the resolution during the meeting.

Why it matters: FEMA requires jurisdictions to maintain an up‑to‑date multi‑hazard mitigation plan to remain eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding. The updated plan was prepared with participation from multiple local governments, tribes and fire and flood agencies; the staff report cited participating partners including the cities of Reno and Sparks, the Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Truckee River Flood Management Project, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.

Key procedural points: The staff presentation said adoption is necessary to enable the district to receive FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant funds. The board passed the resolution by unanimous voice/roll‑call vote; commissioners indicated they were familiar with the plan and did not request further briefing during the meeting.

Related state action: Chief Edwards reported that Senate Bill 319, which the governor signed in mid‑June 2025, requires Washoe County and the cities of Reno and Sparks to form a study group to examine creation of a county fire protection district; the bill requires the study group to complete a written report by December 30, 2026. That study is a separate state requirement and does not change the district’s immediate obligation to adopt the regional hazard mitigation plan.

Ending: With the resolution adopted, the district retains eligibility for FEMA mitigation grants tied to an approved plan; the board did not appropriate specific mitigation grant applications at the July 1 meeting.","The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District board unanimously adopted resolution TM09-2025 on July 1, approving the 2025 Washoe County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan; adoption is required for eligibility for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant funds and tasks a multi-jurisdictional study group under state law.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6520936,"Residents urge immediate restoration of fire services in West Washoe Valley after Station 30 closure",2438,1015000,3453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116078-4c3865c61ef079f5110f0be1bf9aa096&start=1015&end=3453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116078-4c3865c61ef079f5110f0be1bf9aa096/thumbnail_1015000.jpg","/articles/6520936/Washoe-County/Nevada/Residents-urge-immediate-restoration-of-fire-services-in-West-Washoe-Valley-after-Station-30-closure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520936-ac81303f07ad6eabd34a16102a3c7e04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771005242&Signature=HAFFpOWfBQ3aJiPZR-lfNZgpSlx3~VcON33lBxp9dlXxsBzz1qzyM1tcLY18dvG9yipoMiZvu-fliu2j-JEjgDOuRKSqegeMeeQARez~q4FbWIWqsMNazgjrGnH91naoHgvEymHnW3Uu6wSeV-xdpHPmUKAhnFmxLZtBJcadZtVXlBFItPzt-Yo9OZDM0QYxrimxg3M2Pc4XtBJ7PqgqSIc42Zs8XGx5XBr6pTvSJwe6MIyA-bHZDc-0sP6KfqdQK-FNqSRvftginEWr06x7OQYv~ETe4kS5aca1mfUjnEWSBlGLLcp0~R2NODNkO5EbpycKKK3wofSYydQXDwYzZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents of West Washoe Valley pressed the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Board of Fire Commissioners on July 1 for a prompt restoration of local career fire and emergency medical services after the district closed Station 30 in August 2022.

Speakers at the public-comment portion of the July 1 meeting urged the board to either reopen or retrofit the volunteer Bellevue Road station (Station 301) for career staffing or to build the previously promised consolidated station within 90 days. Many described long response times and recent wildfire losses when Station 30 was unavailable.

Why it matters: Residents said the closure has left the West Washoe Valley exposed to slower response times for both structure fires and life‑threatening medical calls, and they tied the lack of a staffed station to the damage in recent wildfires including the Davis and Davis Creek incidents. Several asked commissioners to use contingency funds, sell surplus land, or pursue federal grants to accelerate a local solution.

At the meeting, Tom Daley of West Washoe urged the board to sell the site bought five years ago for a consolidated station and to use roughly $500,000 to stand up Station 301 with a manufactured crew housing unit, furnishings and utilities. Daley asked that staff return with competing estimates at the board’s September meeting. Multiple other commenters echoed that proposal and requested the district apply for a SAFER grant to fund three years of staffing.

Several speakers gave personal accounts of delayed emergency responses and wildfire damage. Barbara Batza, Mark Batza and Robin Leach each said they now face response times “more than twice the national average” and requested immediate action to equip Bellevue Road as a Truckee Meadows career station. William Naylor and Cliff Lowe described recurring wildfire risk, limited water infrastructure, and evacuation bottlenecks during the Davis Creek fire.

Commissioners responded that the issue is a districtwide priority and that multiple options are under discussion. Commissioner Clark said he has pressed for updates for more than two years and requested a concrete action item for the September meeting to discuss interim options for Bellevue station refurbishment. Vice Chair Jean Herman and other commissioners noted the complexity of financing and ownership—some speakers said the station building is owned by volunteers while the land is state-owned—and urged careful but expedited work.

What was requested and what’s next: Several residents formally requested the board either (a) break ground on the consolidated station within 90 days or (b) immediately equip Station 301 at Bellevue Road as a staffed Truckee Meadows career station. Tom Daley asked that the board direct Chief Edwards to return competing cost and timeline estimates by the September meeting. Multiple commissioners expressed support for agendizing a staff report in September; Commissioner Clark requested an action item for September 2 regarding refurbishing or retrofitting Bellevue as a temporary fix.

What the district has said: Commenters said a prior plan to replace Stations 30 and 32 with a consolidated station was halted, citing lack of funding and prior decisions. Several residents blamed the closure on bed‑infestation remediation decisions and on prior leadership choices; the board acknowledged prior votes and said discussions with state and federal funding partners had been underway before the previous chief’s departure.

Ending: The board did not adopt a formal motion during the public‑comment period to commit funds. Multiple residents and commissioners asked staff to provide a written report and cost estimates at the September meeting so the board can consider possible interim and long‑term solutions.","Dozens of West Washoe Valley residents told the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District board July 1 they remain at elevated risk after the closure of Station 30 in August 2022 and urged the board to either equip the Bellevue volunteer station as a career station or break ground within 90 days on a consolidated replacement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Richard J. Edwards sworn in as Truckee Meadows fire chief; outlines priorities including apparatus upgrades and regional study

Truckee Meadows board adopts 2025 Washoe County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to preserve FEMA funding eligibility

Residents urge immediate restoration of fire services in West Washoe Valley after Station 30 closure