Merced County votes to keep both Dos Palos fire stations open for 18 months, staff to negotiate plan with city

The Merced County Board of Supervisors voted June 17 to keep both fire stations that serve the Dos Palos area open for 18 months and directed county staff to work with the city of Dos Palos on a plan and memorandum of understanding to clarify funding and responsibilities.

Interim County Executive Officer Mark Hendrickson told the board the item was brought back to allow more community input and to give staff direction so it can prepare the FY 2025–26 fire services contract; staff will return to the board for consideration of that contract, which would be made retroactive to July 1. "The purpose of this item today is for you to ultimately provide direction to your staff so that they can prepare the FY 25‑26 fire services contract," Hendrickson said at the start of the item.

The decision followed more than an hour of public comment from Dos Palos residents, business owners and the city mayor who warned that closing either station would lengthen response times along busy Highway 152 and across surrounding agricultural areas. "This station is a lifeline for our rural area already stretched thin in emergency coverage," said Hannah Cole, who identified herself as an educator at Golden Valley High School. Matthew Jasso, a resident and member of a large local farming operation, said long fog periods and heavy commuter traffic on Highway 152 increase risk if…