Arcata Fire District Approves New Utility Vehicle, Plans for Joint Study Session

The Arcata Fire Protection District Board of Directors held their regular meeting on July 8, 2025, addressing a range of issues impacting the community. Key decisions included the approval of a new utility vehicle and the scheduling of a joint study session with Humboldt County and the City of Arcata.

The meeting, attended by Directors Miner, McDonald, Lindsley, and Conner, along with the Fire Chief, began with the unanimous approval of the agenda. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the Arcata Volunteer Fire Association (AVFA) report. The AVFA highlighted their considerable volunteer contributions, reporting 86 hours of service in June, which included training sessions and a successful public education program that trained 162 students in CPR. They also announced a grant application for $19,000 to fund drones and related training, and a $12,000 payment to Mad River for modeling work.

The board also approved the consent calendar, which included the minutes from the June 10th meeting, the June financial report, and the adoption of Resolution 25-329, setting the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Appropriations Limit. A key discussion point centered around the replacement of a light rescue truck (Unit 8291), which was declared surplus and listed for sale. The sale of this vehicle will help fund the purchase of a smaller utility vehicle for logistical support at the Mad River fire station. Following public comment, which included suggestions for future capital purchases to be included in the annual budget, the board approved the purchase of a used utility vehicle, with a maximum budget of $75,000.

Looking ahead, a joint study session with Humboldt County and the City of Arcata is scheduled for July 30th. The Arcata Fire District is also actively recruiting for a fire engineer position. Furthermore, the district participated in the recent Pony Express Days parade on June 7th and will be involved in the planning for the upcoming airshow on August 9th and 10th.

For those interested in learning more about the Arcata Fire Protection District or attending future meetings, agendas are available online at www.arcatafire.org/board-meetings. The Board of Directors meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm.