Pyramid Lake tribal council ends Gerlach fire contract; county, chiefs promise six‑month continuity while exploring alternatives

Don Pelt, fire chief, told the Gerlach Citizens Advisory Board that on Jan. 3 the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council voted to end the tribe’s contract to provide fire and emergency services to Gerlach and Washoe County. Pelt said he “protested as much as I possibly could” at the council meeting and that the decision was driven in part by the tribe’s budget cuts and a perception among some council members that tribal resources were being used for non‑tribal members.

Chief Pelt said the tribe and county negotiated an extension so the contract will continue through midnight June 30 — the end of the county fiscal year — giving county and local officials time to find alternative arrangements. “We are going to continue the contract till midnight, June 30th,” Pelt said at the meeting.

Pelt described service impacts already in place: in December Gerlach fire responded to 14 calls for service (four medical, three motor vehicle accidents and one false alarm), and for the full 2024 calendar year the department recorded 131 incidents, 59% of which were medical. He said budget cuts have led to “brownouts” — scheduled days without staffed coverage — and that ARPA funds from Washoe County will reduce brownouts from four days per month to two days per month through the June 30 extension.

Pelt also reported an ambulance was in the shop and Truckee Meadows provided a spare that local personnel are operating; the tribe’s budget does not include funds to cover an ambulance in the contract. He warned layoffs are possible if funding is not resolved: three tribal employees who served Gerlach could be laid off after the contract ends unless alternative funding or staffing arrangements are found.

County Manager Eric Brown and other county leaders told the board they are pursuing multiple options. Brown said his office is exploring mutual‑aid arrangements and had opened discussions with REMSA and other rural providers that have standing arrangements in small communities. He said Truckee Meadows has helped with technical support and that the county will “dig in” to find solutions that may include alternative contractors or revised franchise boundaries for emergency medical service providers.

Captain Pritchard and county grants staff reported ongoing grant activity: the county and Gerlach Fire submitted an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) request for equipment and are considering the FEMA SAFER grant for staffing and training. Captain Pritchard said an Advanced EMT (AEMT) academy is planned for fall and that the county and partners are seeking training and equipment funding regardless of the long‑term contract outcome.

Board members and residents urged improved communications with Pyramid Lake leadership, community involvement in negotiations and local fuel‑load reduction to reduce wildfire risk. Karl Kopec offered to spearhead a volunteer fire‑auxiliary to reduce vegetation and create defensible space while longer‑term service solutions are pursued.

Washoe County Commissioner (name recorded as Commissioner Herman) thanked responders and county staff and urged the community to remain engaged; county officials said they will return to the CAB with updates and that the board will have time to act before the contract lapses. No formal vote was taken on emergency services at this meeting.