Arcata Fire Board Approves 3-Year Union Contract, Grapples with High-Rise Safety and Mutual Aid Changes
ARCATA, CA – The Arcata Fire Protection District Board of Directors approved a new three-year labor agreement, finalized its annual budget, and addressed significant concerns regarding regional mutual aid and the district's capacity to handle future high-rise developments during its meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The board unanimously approved a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Arcata Professional Firefighters Local 4981. The agreement, which runs until December 31, 2027, includes a 4% wage increase for firefighters effective immediately, followed by additional 4% increases in January 2026 and January 2027. The agreement also increases sick leave from 12 to 24 hours per month and bereavement leave from 72 to 96 hours annually.
Following a public hearing, the board also unanimously adopted its final budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The budget projects a deficit of $75,000, which fire officials described as a "worst-case scenario." They expressed confidence that pending grant opportunities, including a $50,000 health and wellness grant, would close the gap. The previous fiscal year concluded with a $50,000 surplus.
A significant operational challenge was raised during the Chief's Report regarding a change to the North Bay mutual aid agreement. Due to the high call volume in the Arcata Fire District, neighboring volunteer fire departments will no longer be automatically dispatched on initial fire calls. This change was requested by the volunteer agencies who felt their resources were being "burned out."
"It's going to be a lag time," the Fire Chief explained, noting that the delay in getting additional resources to a confirmed fire could be as long as 20 minutes. To help mitigate the gap, Cal Fire has agreed to add one of its engines to the initial dispatch for Arcata incidents. However, the reduction in immediate automatic aid remains a significant concern for firefighter safety and operational capacity.
These staffing and resource concerns were central to a discussion about the City of Arcata's Local Coastal Program (LCP) update, which is tied to the Gateway Area Plan. A director highlighted a recent appellate court ruling concerning a hotel project in Trinidad, which established a legal precedent that the California Coastal Commission must adequately consider the availability and capability of fire protection services for new developments.
Citing the district's current limitations in staffing and equipment for fighting fires in proposed 4- to 7-story buildings, the board took action. "I think we've decided we've been told by our experts that we don't have the staff, the equipment, and the training to put fires out in those buildings," a director stated. The board directed the chief to hire a planning consultant, with a budget not to exceed $5,000, to help formally communicate the district's service limitations to the Coastal Commission.
During public comment, a representative for the firefighters' union shared a NIST study on fire service deployment, which analyzed the impact of different crew sizes on firefighter safety and occupant survivability in high-rise fires. The study, which the representative recommended the board review, underscores the resource-intensive nature of such incidents.
On a positive note, the Arcata Volunteer Fire Association announced it had secured an $18,000 grant from the California Fire Foundation to purchase a new drone for the district.
Other business included:
* A discussion about re-engaging with Cal Poly Humboldt to establish a new ancillary services contract, which the university cancelled in 2023.
* The first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2025 California Fire Code, with a public hearing and final adoption scheduled for a future meeting.
* Approval of resolutions to update the master salary schedule and declare old equipment as surplus.