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Calistoga council approves automatic aid agreement with Napa County Fire to immediateen first‑alarm responses
Summary
The City Council voted to enter a five‑year automatic aid agreement with the Napa County Fire Department that will add county battalion chief coverage, hazmat and technical rescue teams, integrated training, and an immediate multi‑unit first‑alarm response at no direct cost to the city.
The Calistoga City Council voted unanimously August 4 to adopt a resolution establishing an automatic aid agreement with the Napa County Fire Department that the city says will deliver a full first‑alarm response on many serious incidents and expand training opportunities for local firefighters.
Fire department leadership told the council the shift replaces a decades‑old fee‑for‑service or per‑call billing arrangement and will instead automatically dispatch county resources—battalion chiefs available 24/7, additional staffed engines and a truck company, hazardous‑materials specialists, technical rescue teams and volunteer engines—on many calls. “With this new agreement, we're going to end up with what is considered a true full 1st alarm response on any structure fire,” the chief said during the presentation.
City staff and the fire chief emphasized the agreement is structured to improve operational response time. Under the prior arrangement, Calistoga crews had to request additional resources, which could introduce multi‑minute delays; the new dispatch matrix automatically summons extra resources, removing that step. The chief also described monthly integrated training at Napa County’s training grounds, saying the city’s crews will train alongside county units and gain familiarity with shared procedures.
Council members asked how the change compares to earlier contracts and whether there are budget implications. Staff said the agreement carries no direct cost to Calistoga; rather, it formalizes mutual response to incidents and bundles operational support and training. The council heard that the agreement includes a five‑year term expiring June 30, 2031, and contains a mutual 30‑day termination provision.
Council moved to adopt the resolution and the clerk recorded a roll call: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Giff, Council members Lopez Ortega, Cooper and Eisenberg all voted aye. The council directed staff to return any related implementation documents and operational matrices for record and to continue coordination with county officials, which the chief said is already underway.
What’s next: the agreement will also be considered by the Napa County Board of Supervisors; staff said county legal review and board consideration are in process and the city will continue coordination as the county completes its internal approvals.
