The city has long partnered with CAL FIRE through a cooperative agreement that blends city and county resources at Station 74. Designed by Freepik

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Anticipated increases to fire service costs were outlined during an April 6 special meeting of the Gridley City Council, where CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Jason Dyer presented an update on staffing levels and contract projections ahead of the city’s July 1 renewal deadline.

The city has long partnered with CAL FIRE through a cooperative agreement that blends city and county resources at Station 74. The county funds the primary engine and operates the county‑owned station, while the city staffs and maintains the ladder truck, allowing both apparatuses to respond together across jurisdictional lines. Dyer said the engine runs with a full three‑person crew, while the ladder truck typically operates with two personnel, making it the only two‑person staffed apparatus in Butte County and leaving it below the industry standard.

“The goal long term is to reach that traditional staffing model,” Dyer said, describing a three‑person crew per apparatus as standard for effective fire response and safety.

To move toward that model, Dyer proposed adding one engineer position in fiscal year 2026‑27, bringing the city’s staffing contribution to one captain and five engineers at a cost of just over $1.5 million. He said the request reflects earlier reductions tied to budget constraints. Gridley previously funded five engineers but dropped to three during lean years, temporarily restoring positions with a SAFER grant that covered about $300,000 in staffing before expiring in 2023.

Dyer emphasized that staffing recommendations are based on national standards, noting that NFPA 1710 calls for at least 15 firefighters on an initial structure‑fire response. Through the cooperative model, Gridley receives that level of response automatically, with multiple engines dispatched immediately through a single point of contact.

He also outlined financial and operational advantages of the agreement. All chief officer coverage is funded by the state or county. Relief staffing is provided without additional cost to the city. The city‑owned Type 3 engine has generated about $824,000 in equipment‑rental revenue over six years when deployed to state wildfires. Expensive mandates, including protective gear that costs roughly $10,000 per set plus annual inspections, are absorbed by the state.

Dyer pointed to the 110 Virginia Street commercial fire, which required more than 50 firefighters to contain, as an example of the regional system’s effectiveness.

Council members asked questions about equipment costs, volunteer participation and long‑term funding. No action was taken. The contract will be returned to council at a later date, officials said.