Big Bear Lake fire board hears county cost-proposal update; residents urge against contracting

The Big Bear Lake Fire Protection District heard a status update on a cost proposal from San Bernardino County Fire Services at a special meeting, and residents urged the board not to pursue contracting with the county.

Eric, a district staff member, told the board that the fire authority had voted to seek cost proposals and that the district had directed staff to obtain a proposal from San Bernardino County Fire Services. “I have met with the county, and the county is putting together a proposal,” Eric said, adding, “I anticipate that proposal being brought back to the Fire Protection District in an April timeframe for deliberation and consideration.” He said there was no written staff report for the item and that the county is still preparing numbers.

During public comment, longtime resident Ricky Seward opposed contracting with the county and described his public-safety background in the valley. “We should not think about contracting with county fire,” Seward said, adding that he had seen county firefighters “getting force hired for 15 days straight” and worried that extended deployments and heavy workloads harmed morale and response quality. Seward called for local staffing solutions and said an additional staffed station and shorter response times should be considered.

Another resident, identified as Gilbranson, criticized the board’s process and said he planned to distribute information about the Brown Act to attendees. He described turnout and public-notification concerns and said recent handling of the issue had been “pathetic,” urging changes in how meetings and communications are conducted.

Board members did not take formal action at the meeting. The district’s staff presentation indicated the county’s written proposal is expected to return to the board in April for formal consideration; the board did not set a date for further deliberation during the session and adjourned after public comment.