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Board unanimously backs letter of support for White Mountain Fire District station replacement and Hammel Valley satellite
Summary
After a presentation on overcrowded and outdated facilities, the board voted 5–0 to send a letter supporting White Mountain Fire Protection District’s effort to replace its Benton station and pursue a Hammel Valley satellite and funding partnerships.
The Mono County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to approve a letter of support for the White Mountain Fire Protection District’s plan to replace its deteriorating Benton station and pursue a satellite facility in Hammel Valley.
Chief Dave Dunan described chronic facility problems at the Benton station: inadequate apparatus bays, no vehicle‑exhaust extraction, lack of decontamination and extraction laundry facilities, poor drainage and limited secure space for personal protective equipment. He said the district currently lacks a permanent, bonafide water supply that meets the Insurance Services Office (ISO) minimum, and that adding a 30,000‑gallon water storage tank at a new station would improve the district’s ISO classification and residents’ insurability.
"Anything we can do to help [insurability and response] is what we're going to try to do," Dunan said during the presentation. He reviewed a conceptual design that includes equipment bays, modest living spaces for on‑call staffing, a training room and a water tank to support sustained flows for firefighting.
Dunan acknowledged the project’s estimated cost could be several million dollars and said the district plans to pursue a mix of grants, USDA low‑interest loans, in‑kind site work and other funding sources rather than relying on a single local bond to cover the full cost. The board supported the district’s approach and authorized a letter of support to accompany grant applications and feasibility work.
Supervisor motioned and the board approved the letter of support 5–0; staff will return with additional materials and a proposed workshop about the county‑owned Hammel Valley parcel to discuss options for a satellite station and any permitting or site constraints.
The board’s support is a non‑binding endorsement to help the district leverage outside funding and to advance planning for improved emergency services and community resilience in the Tri‑Valley region.
