County Fire Agencies

Did you know…?

There are 22 local fire agencies (20 cites/districts and 2 volunteer fire companies) plus Cal Fire for a total of 23.

Four cities/districts have combined into 2 JPA’s – Fort Bragg and Ukiah.  That said, 20 local fire departments exist plus Cal Fire.

All 20 local fire departments rely on volunteers, Cal Fire does not.

Most of the local departments do not have a paid chief.

The majority of local departments are ALL  volunteers.

Each of the 20 departments receive some tax monies.  However, Westport and Whale Gulch (“volunteer fire companies”) are not associated with any special district and receive no property-tax related revenues. 

But, only half of Mendocino County is in a fire district. The other half receives emergency services but doesn’t pay for them.

All agencies do receive Proposition 172 sales tax monies ($10,000 minimum).

Starting in 2020 the County begin collecting Transient Occupancy Tax from place like camp grounds that will provide some additional funding for the local districts.  The agency distributions will be ~$30,000 for the first year.

Together, taxes collected and allocated fall woefully short of the Board of Supervisors estimate of $10,000,000 needed by local fire agencies.

The County government has provided only limited help to fire departments and ambulance services. Most departments rely on federal grants and fundraisers to survive.

Basic firefighting gear costs $1,200 per person. A new fire engine costs $250,000 or more.

Volunteer firefighters spend huge amounts of time in training. Training is expensive.

Volunteer firefighters are usually the first at scene of medical emergencies and traffic accidents.

Your life could depend on how well your fire department is equipped and its firefighters trained.

Leggett
354-2044
PO Box 191
Leggett 95585
leggettfire@gmail.com

Mendocino
937-0131
44700 Little Lake
Mendocino 95460
mvfd@mcn.org

Piercy
247-3449
PO Box 206
Piercy 95587
piercy5600@yahoo.com

Potter Valley
743-1415
10521 Main Street
Potter Valley 95469

Redwood Coast-Point Arena
882-1833
PO Box 245
Pt. Arena 95468

Redwood Valley-Calpella
485-8121
PO Box 385
Redwood Valley 95470
rvcfd@comcast.net

South Coast-Gualala
884-4700
39215 Church
Gualala 95445

Ukiah Valley
462-7921
1500 S. State
Ukiah 95482
chief6400@att.net

Westport
964-4646
Box 63
Westport 95488

Whale Gulch
707-986-7317
76850 B Usal Rd
Whitethorn, CA 95589
whalegulchvfc@gmail.com

Willits/Little Lake
459-6271
74 E. Commercial, Willits 95490
willitsfire@sbcglobal.net

CAL FIRE (CDF)
Unit Chief George Gonzalez

Headquarters……..459-7414
Boonville…………….895-3323
Covelo…………………983-6499
Fort Bragg…………..964-5673
Hopland………………744-1111
Laytonville………….984-6777
Leggett…………………925-6414
Woodlands………….937-5765
Point Arena…………882-2151
Ukiah…………………..462-7448