Resident urges board to clarify status of Vacaville Fire Protection District amid insurance concerns

At the Solano County Board of Supervisors’ public comment period, resident Leanne Stubblefield of Pleasant Valley asked the board for public information about the Vacaville Fire Protection District’s board appointments and potential consolidation under a community-wide protection plan.

Stubblefield, who said she and neighbors had been affected by the LNU Fire, described several improvements in the Vacaville district and argued the district’s viability matters for local insurance rates. “I need to know what’s happening with our Vacaville Fire District,” she said. She told the board the district received about 700 calls last year and that neighboring districts received about half that number; she also credited a volunteer stipend program and an automatic aid agreement with Winters Fire Department for improving service.

The board chair cautioned that under public comment the board would not respond to detailed operational questions and suggested the speaker raise reorganization items when they are agendized. Stubblefield said she wanted the questions in the public record and then invited Chair Mashburn and Supervisor Vasquez to attend a Pleasants Valley Fire Safe Council meeting “next Monday” to discuss local concerns.

The speaker connected her concerns to broader issues raised by insurance companies assessing the “viability of the local firefighting companies and districts.” She asked the board why Vacaville district boards had not been reappointed and said consolidation could benefit Northern Solano residents; the board did not make a formal response or take action during the meeting.

No staff report or agenda item on Vacaville Fire Protection District reorganization was considered at this session; the chair directed the speaker to a future meeting (March 11, as referenced by staff) for substantive discussion if the matter appears on an agenda.