Lemoore Volunteer Fire Department chief says Measure K essential for local public safety

The Lemoore Volunteer Fire Department has been in service for nearly 100 years. The LVFD is comprised of 35 volunteer members, 9 of which are certified Emergency Medical Technicians, 26 hold their Firefighter I certificate, and 19 hold their Firefighter I & II certificates, an increase of 11 since 2018.

LVFD strives to provide the community with the best Fire Protection service possible. We currently have 10 members enrolled in the certified Emergency Medical Technician training program.

So far this year, LVFD has responded to 1,388 calls with response times of 2:29. We train an average of 12 to 16 hours a month up until the recent COVID-19 pandemic. We implemented new guidelines with rotating crews to still meet the required training needed.

As many of you know, the City of Lemoore is facing difficult financial challenges. The current administration has been working diligently to rectify the budget deficit. With that, the city has had to place a hiring freeze on the Volunteer Fire Department. We are currently down to 32 members and had to reconfigure our crews to make it thru this.  Although our department is all-volunteer, the fees for the hiring process and the necessary gear can reach upwards of $8,000 per volunteer.

Our equipment is time-sensitive, meaning that our turnouts have a lifespan of 10 years, our air tanks have expiration dates, equipment must be tested and maintained yearly, and trucks must be serviced and up to code. Medical aid supplies are disposable and require constant replacement. 

Because of these rules and regulations, the Volunteer Fire Department can’t keep a surplus of items around.  Since becoming the 2nd Assistant Fire Chief in 2007 to my current position as Fire Chief, I have worked with the LVFD’s budget, and each year our budget decreases, and costs still continue to rise. We manage the budget we are given to replace high priority items and maintain the two stations, leaving little left for anything else. 

That is why I am supporting Measure K. The one percent (1%) sales tax has the potential to bring in an additional $1.8 to $2.0 million dollars a year to the City of Lemoore.

Voting YES on Measure K will allow us to obtain the adequate staff needed for Fire Emergency Services, as well as provide more training and up to date equipment for the station, which in turn benefits the community.

Thank you,

Bruce German, Fire Chief

Lemoore Volunteer Fire Department