The Clark County Fire District 3 Board of Fire Commissioners passed a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the Aug. 1 primary election ballot.
A news release from the fire district stated the lid lift would fund additional personnel to respond to higher call volumes and meet industry best practices. It would also fund the renovation of Station 34 to provide 24-hour staffing to reduce response times.
If approved, the fire levy lid lift will be 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value and will cost an additional $12.08 per month or $145 per year for the owner of a $500,000 home.
“Our current staffing model prevents us from entering buildings unless another engine company is on scene,” Fire Chief Scott Sorenson stated in the release. “This is not in line with industry best practices and can delay our response. The additional staffing will allow us to meet the emergency service level needs of our growing community.”
State code requires four firefighters on scene to carry out interior structural fire operations. The district’s current two-person engine companies require another engine company on scene before interior fire operations or rescues can occur, stated the release. If there’s a known rescue situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life or serious injury, firefighters can take such rescue action if there are at least three firefighters present and equipped to provide emergency assistance or rescue of the team, stated the release.
If approved by voters, the fire levy lid lift would allow for three-person engine companies, which would mean rescue operations can be initiated and interior fire operations can start with just one more firefighter arriving in a smaller vehicle, which is more cost-effective.
The lid lift will also fund technical training in the areas of swift water, high angles and ropes to decrease the reliance of outside agency help, along with a remodel of Station 34 in the Rawson Road/Elkhorn/Summer Hill area to provide full-time 24-hour staffing to reduce response times.
The money would additionally be used to replace a fire engine, ambulance and other smaller equipment that have reached the end of their usable lives, stated the release.
