Merced County residents urge supervisors to keep Dos Palos Station 75 open

Dozens of residents, farmers and local officials addressed the Merced County Board of Supervisors on June 10 urging the board to keep Fire Station 75 at the Dos Palos Y open and to reconsider a plan that would consolidate emergency services with the city’s Station 76.

Speakers said the county’s May discussions about station consolidation put rural public safety at risk for a broad agricultural area north of Highway 152. "Station 75 ... provides essential fire and medical related services to an area that encompasses residences, businesses, and over 80,000 acres of farmland," said William Pruitt, a Dos Palos resident and business owner, who estimated some portions of the area could face first-responder travel times of "more than 30 minutes" if Station 75 is closed.

The call to keep Station 75 open recurred throughout the public comment period. The speakers included the mayor of Dos Palos and the city council member, the Merced County Farm Bureau, local service-club leaders and retired and active firefighters, all describing long travel distances, heavy agricultural traffic and limited crossing points over the San Joaquin River as compounding response-time concerns.

Why it matters: residents and business owners said the Dos Palos Y station covers a long stretch of Highway 152 and adjacent farmland, where workers frequently operate heavy equipment, handle hazardous materials and commute from other communities. "A worker injured far from town doesn't have time to wait 15, 20, or even 30 extra minutes," said Holly Crivelli, identifying herself as a concerned Dos Palos resident.

Speakers described multiple local impacts if Station 75 were closed: increased ambulance and engine travel times, higher insurance premiums for city residents if fire protection distances increase, and operational strain on nearby stations. Claudia Bautista, a Dos Palos council member, reminded the board of the May 27 vote she described as keeping Station 76 open and consolidating Station 75 into 76; she also raised concerns about off-agenda discussions, saying, "I hope that there hasn't been any Brown Act violations in discussions amongst each other outside of the public." Bautista said she had heard of a donor contribution only after the last meeting and asked for transparency so the public could consider new information.

Several speakers urged a collaborative solution involving the city and county. Brianne Vandenberg, executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau, said the bureau is "not here to advocate for one closure over the other, but rather stress our organization's belief that emergency services are critical" and asked the city and county to return to the table to explore alternatives.

The mayor of Dos Palos, Katie Reid, said the city had identified local funding measures and impact fees to help support station operations and said the city would prefer any consolidated station be located within city limits. Other residents described petitions circulated in the Dos Palos Y area and requested the supervisors to allow further public input.

What the board did: during this meeting the public comment period closed after residents spoke. No formal board motion, vote or decision to close or reopen any station was recorded in the June 10 public comments portion of the meeting.

Context and next steps: multiple speakers referred to prior board discussion on May 27 about station consolidation and to ongoing conversations about funding, sales-tax measures and intergovernmental coordination. Residents asked the board to delay any closure and said they want a public re-evaluation that includes the city of Dos Palos and affected rural stakeholders.

Ending: speakers emphasized risks to families, farmworkers and commuters along Highway 152 and asked supervisors to prioritize response times and transparency in any final decisions.