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Council allocates reimbursement appropriation for Fresno Fire mutual-aid deployments
Summary
The council approved an appropriation to cover overtime costs from the city’s firefighter mutual-aid deployments; staff said reimbursements come from the state’s OES and flow into the general fund before being allocated back to the fire department.
The Fresno City Council voted 5-0 to appropriate funds to cover overtime and associated costs from recent out-of-county mutual-aid deployments by the Fresno Fire Department.
Fire Chief Billy Alcorn told council members the department currently has about 18 personnel deployed under mutual aid — three engines with four personnel each (12 firefighters) and several single resources — working on fires including the Palisades and Eaton fires near Pasadena. Chief Alcorn described the city’s use of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) procedures for reimbursement: the city invoices OES for personnel costs, an administrative rate and equipment lease rates, and the state reimburses those expenses to the general fund.
Council members asked how the reimbursed dollars are managed and whether any excess could be directed toward firefighter health and wellness programs. Christie, the staff member who handles invoicing and payroll, said reimbursements flow to the general fund and the department must return to council to request specific appropriations for other uses. Staff also said the fire department is not running with excess revenue; current overtime costs have exceeded initial estimates and salary savings will cover a portion of overages.
Council members discussed timing and whether to delay the appropriation in order to revisit spending priorities; staff said the account has no remaining funds to cover ongoing mutual-aid costs and that the city will likely return for additional appropriations as the season continues. One council member moved to approve the appropriation that day; the motion was seconded and the council recorded the vote as 5 to 0 in favor.
Chief Alcorn also described ongoing local mitigation and training efforts with the San Joaquin River Conservancy, saying vegetation management and wildland refresher drills have been used to reduce local fire risk and to train personnel.
No changes to reimbursement procedures were proposed; staff said the city will follow OES invoicing and appropriation rules and return to council to request specific spending of any excess funds if they occur.
