CAL FIRE engine to be stationed at Madera County Fire Station 11 in North Fork; board approves co-location agreement

The Madera County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized an agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to co-locate a state engine at Madera County Fire Station 11 in North Fork.

The board approved the agreement by unanimous vote, and staff said the co-location aims to improve response times and provide consistent staffed coverage in a community that has experienced historic wildland incidents.

Why it matters: County and state officials said the co-location will reduce response times for wildland fires, medical emergencies and structure incidents in North Fork and surrounding areas. County staff and supervisors described the arrangement as a partnership that leverages state resources while ensuring local station coverage when the state engine is deployed for statewide incidents.

What the agreement says

- A CAL FIRE engine will be moved into the county-built Station 11 on Road 240 (North Fork) with no scheduled time limitation. The vehicle will be staffed and housed at the station year-round.

- Because the state engine remains a state asset, CAL FIRE will provide a cover engine when the unit is sent elsewhere on a state mission; the county will not be left without coverage.

- County staff said contractors are finishing communications and telecom work at Station 11 before the engine is brought in; a ribbon-cutting was discussed for June.

Board and staff comments

Chief Chris Trinidad, recently promoted to unit chief for the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit, was introduced at the meeting and recognized by the board. CAO Jay Varney and county staff highlighted Trinidad’s experience coordinating multi‑agency wildland response and his role facilitating the Central Sierra Operating Plan under the California Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act.

Assistant Chief Jess McComb (Madera County Fire) said crews and contractors were on site finishing communications work and assembling furniture and amenities so personnel can live at the station. McComb outlined that the station will be staffed daily and that, when the state engine is deployed, CAL FIRE will insert a cover engine to keep the station operational.

Supervisor McCauley thanked staff and tribal and community partners and said the project had been discussed for some time before coming to fruition. Supervisor Womhoff and Supervisor Rogers also commended the partnership and noted the benefit of quicker response times not just for wildland incidents but for medical calls and vehicle accidents.

Public comment and community notes

- Bill Ritchie, a Raymond resident and public-safety advocate, told the board the engine “will definitely be a lifesaver” for cardiac arrest and serious-trauma patients in North Fork and emphasized the ongoing need for paid-call and volunteer firefighters countywide.

- The board and staff recognized the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians for grant support that helped make Station 11 possible and thanked local auxiliaries that furnished the facility and supported move-in.

Details and clarifications from staff

- Response-time context: Assistant Chief McComb said Eastern Madera County is classified under the NFPA 1720/1720-like rural standards and the county’s combination staffing meets the NFPA guideline that 80% of responses be under 14 minutes; Madera County staff said the county is generally meeting or exceeding that benchmark across much of Eastern Madera County but acknowledged some distant locations may exceed it.

- Staffing and compliance: The county noted its paid stations meet CAL FIRE contract minimums (generally two paid firefighters per shift at certain paid stations) while some volunteer stations remain non‑staffed; the co-location expands staffed coverage for North Fork.

Board action and next steps

The board voted 5-0 to approve the CAL FIRE co-location agreement and authorized the chair to sign. Staff said they will complete remaining telecom and communications work and move the engine into Station 11 when the site is cleared; a June ribbon-cutting was discussed but not yet scheduled. County and state staff said they will continue coordination on staffing, logistics and community outreach.

Ending

County officials described the agreement as a model of intergovernmental cooperation that will keep a staffed engine in a strategic foothill location while preserving statewide CAL FIRE mission capabilities.