La Habra Heights weighs taxes, county contracts and grants to sustain volunteer fire department

La Habra Heights held a special Saturday workshop on Oct. 4 to examine the long-term sustainability of its volunteer-staffed fire department, focusing on paramedic coverage, equipment replacement and shrinking grant support.

The city’s fire chief, identified in the record as Chief Jorgensen, told residents that while the department remains professional and effective, rising post‑COVID costs and the loss of key grants make existing funding unsustainable. The chief said grant programs that once supplied turnouts, PPE and apparatus grants have been reduced or disappeared and that a recent off‑the‑shelf Pierce Type 1 engine purchased under grant pricing rose from about $685,000 at order to $880,000 on delivery; he said similar rigs can be $1.2 million today with lead times of several years.

Why it matters: The department provides both firefighting and advanced-life-support (ALS) paramedic services to a mostly rural, low-turnover community where mutual‑aid response can add many critical minutes. Residents and staff said paramedic coverage is the issue they most want prioritized.

Chief Jorgensen and staff described three key budget drivers: (1) staffing and paramedic pay, (2) vehicle and PPE replacement with rapidly rising prices and mandated service‑life rules, and (3) the disappearance of federal and other grants that previously offset operating costs. The chief said the department has relied heavily on grants and volunteer recruitment and estimated—during the discussion—that roughly $2.2 million is needed to sustain current service levels going forward (the record identifies this as a departmental funding gap rather than a formal budget vote).

Residents offered competing cost and service models. Richard Beckman, a longtime resident, urged prioritizing paramedics and suggested contracting for ‘assistance by hire’ with Los Angeles County on a per‑call basis to save money; he estimated that paying the county per major call could be far cheaper than maintaining full in‑house coverage. Beckman also proposed deploying smaller paramedic squad vehicles or motorcycle paramedics for faster EMS response and lower fleet costs.

Others argued the city could not rely solely on service contracts. Several commenters, including Matthew Edinger of the roads committee and Stephen Blagg, urged a combination of measures: pursue grants, tighten enforcement of weed‑abatement rules to reduce fire risk, expand volunteer recruitment and training partnerships with local academies, and consider targeted tax measures or reallocation of general‑fund dollars. One resident, Rick Brooks, said he would accept a property tax increase to preserve local control of the department, while acknowledging that creating new commercial corridors to grow sales tax revenue would change the character of the community.

On staffing models: The chief explained the difference between single‑function paramedics (who are not certified to fight into IDLH — immediately dangerous to life or health — environments) and dual‑function firefighter‑paramedics. La Habra Heights presently relies on a mix that includes single‑function medics; Chief Jorgensen and staff said county squads typically staff firefighter‑paramedics who can perform both roles, but those squads require more experienced medics and carry other costs (dispatching truck companies, station coverage, and contract minimums).

The workshop also considered operational constraints such as hospital ‘wall time’—the time units wait at hospitals before returning to service—and how that affects unit availability. Staff noted steps taken during the COVID period (ARPA-funded tuition reimbursements and temporary pay increases) to retain paramedics, but said those one‑time revenues have ended and the paramedic workforce remains hard to sustain.

What the city can do next: Staff and council members outlined a multi‑meeting process. Options on the table include a dedicated fire tax, reallocating general‑fund money, a more detailed cost comparison for contracting with the county or other agencies, continued pursuit of grants and local fundraising for smaller needs, and operational changes such as leasing vehicles or buying squad vehicles. The council scheduled more working sessions and anticipates a capstone meeting (projected for February) to decide on a formal path forward.

Quotes that capture the discussion: “Grants sustain this little department,” Chief Jorgensen said, adding that equipment lead times and price inflation make planning difficult. Resident Richard Beckman said, “Paramedics save lives,” urging the council to consider per‑call contracting and smaller EMS vehicles. Resident Matthew Edinger urged the roads committee and fire department to coordinate to address slough and access issues that reduce apparatus maneuverability.

No formal motions or votes were recorded at the workshop; staff said any change to funding (including tax measures or contract procurement) would return to council for formal consideration. The council asked staff to collect more detailed cost estimates, to assess potential contract terms with the county and other providers, and to continue outreach about grant opportunities and local fundraising.