Mission Statement

This District shall provide fire protection, fire suppression, rescue and emergency medical services, education in fire safety and emergency standards, and other services to protect lives and property while maintaining the highest level of safety for firefighters/rescue personnel.  Services shall be provided in a professional manner within the economic and demographic limitations of our community and in recognition of the need for dedicated volunteer involvement, as appropriate, using innovation and flexibility in response to local needs and conditions.

NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...

THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AT OUR  BAKED POTATO BOOTH!

WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE, THIS YEAR PROMISES A SUCCESSFUL FAIR

ROUGH AND READY TO HOLD COMMUNITY WIDE YARD SALE TO BENEFIT FIRE DEPT!

MONTHLY SPAGHETTI FEED RETURNS!

Join us on the 2nd Thursday of the month!

Get together with your friends and neighbors...and meet new ones...at the monthly Fire Department Spaghetti Feed, now back after a COVID Imposed hiatus!  Enjoy a delicious Spaghetti Dinner, provided by Behind the Scenes: Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed green salad and garlic bread. Dinner begins serving at 5pm. Donations are gratefully accepted!

Ask, too, how you can join BTS (Behind the Scenes), a great organization of Firefighters and community members, whose focus is supporting our Firefighters!

STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

July 12, 2022

The current Administration of the Rough and Ready Fire Protection District has reached out and met with the Employees' Union Representatives, neighboring Fire Districts, our County District 4 Supervisor, LAFCo Representative, ECC (Emergency Command Center) and community groups over the past several months to find a sustainable solution to our budgetary restrictions.

To ensure fiscal stability, the Rough and Ready Fire Protection District is temporarily suspending staffing two days out of the week on a rotating basis, beginning July 15th. During this time our Mutual Aid Agreements with our neighboring agencies will cover our response within the Fire District, with little or no time delay.

We appreciate the continuing support and participation of the community in this matter.

Board of Directors

Rough and Ready Fire Protection District

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• The Rough and Ready Fire Protection District has operated as a volunteer fire department since its inception in 1967.  Various revenue sources help fund its operation.  In 2018, we put on paid staff consisting of two Captains working as single staffing on rotating shifts of three (24 hour) days on and three days off, along with volunteer staffing.
• In 2019 the Fire District came to the Community and asked for a per-parcel Fire Suppression Assessment for the purpose of enhancing staffing and budget tolerance for the increasing expenses of services, maintenance and supplies of a staffed fire station.  The Assessment was based on fire suppression services only.
• The Assessment Engineering was based on the previous work schedule.  After the Assessment passed, the District was able to hire two more personnel, allowing us to staff the fire house with 2-on staffing, 24/7, and fund the expanding cost of operating a staffed fire station.
• The "Three Day Staffing" became problematic with overtime, scheduling and expenditures and had become phased out in the industry. The current industry standard is a 48 hour on-shift with 96 hours off-shift (48/96), creating three shifts (A Shift, B Shift and C Shift) employing six Firefighters, supplementing with two/three seasonal fire personnel during fire season.  This allowed us to participate in Strike Team assignments, bringing in extra revenue, as well as back-staffed with our dedicated volunteers.
• In 2021 the State Fire Marshal eliminated the volunteer fire certification, and began requiring a minimum standard completion certification from an accredited Fire Academy.  This, along with other mandates from the Fire Marshal and the State, created unmanageable operating costs.  Our payroll, benefits and workers compensation has grown along with the cost of living and inflationary increases.
• While it has only been a few short years since the Assessment was implemented, the industry and the cost of doing business has changed significantly.  Our revenue has changed very little in comparison.
• The current administration has taken on the challenge to find a sustainable solution to maintain the quality service the Community has come to know and expect.  We are reaching out and meeting with Employees' Union Representatives, neighboring Fire Districts, our County Supervisor, LAFCO (the agency that has oversight on Special Districts), Community groups and individuals to obtain input from all parties involved in order to find a sustainable solution.
• The current Board of Directors thanks the Community for its strong support over the many years.  With the help of our community and our Grange, Chamber of Commerce, the Upper Rough and Ready Fire Wise Road Committee, active individuals as well as the added benefits of ending Covid restrictions, the Rough and Ready Fire Protection District is looking forward to resuming the community breakfast, spaghetti dinners, Secession Days, the Baked Potato Booth at the Fair and other activities and events. We are committed to working with our community to keep our local pride and identity.