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County to buy emergency generator; proclamation set for wildfire preparedness days
Summary
Commissioners authorized purchase of a used 100 kW generator (about $59,271) to be split with the town and adopted a proclamation designating community wildfire preparedness days in late July; staff emphasized maintenance, operator support and rapid deployment capability for emergency response.
San Juan County authorized purchase of a used 100 kilowatt emergency generator and adopted a wildfire community preparedness proclamation for late July as part of a broader push to strengthen local emergency capabilities.
County staff reported a purchase price of $59,271 for a slightly used 100 kW generator capable of powering pumps and critical infrastructure; the town agreed to finance half the purchase. Commissioners discussed logistics (freight and trailer included), operation and maintenance responsibilities and the value of having a mobile generator that can run a four‑ or five‑inch pump to fill 4,000‑gallon tenders in about 10 minutes. Staff noted county staff John Arcus would be responsible for maintenance and operation details and that the unit would arrive on a trailer and include freight delivery.
Motion and vote: A commissioner moved to approve purchase of the generator and split related costs with the town; another commissioner seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.
Wildfire preparedness proclamation: Separately, the board approved a proclamation recognizing community wildfire preparedness days (county date and town cleanup July 28–29) and discussed offering public defensible‑space evaluations, informational booths and outreach during those days. Staff asked that the county coordinate with town events and offer opportunities for residents to learn simple mitigation steps and request home evaluations.
Why it matters: The generator expands local capacity to support fire suppression logistics and emergency pumping, and the wildfire preparedness activities aim to reduce community risk by encouraging action before peak fire season.
Next steps: Staff will finalize purchase logistics with the vendor, confirm cost‑share details with the town, complete purchase authorization and add the generator to the county’s asset and maintenance plans. The county will publicize the community preparedness dates and provide details for residents seeking defensible‑space evaluations.
