>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY THAT WILL FOLLOW DEPUTIES AROUND AND FILM THEM ENFORCING THE LAW ON THE NORTH COAST, BUT THESE LOCAL COPS AREN'T YOUR OLD SCHOOL BAD BOYS.

ALSO, WE'LL CHAT WITH CHIEF SEAN ROBERTSON AND FIRE CAPTAIN BRANDON HARLANDER FROM HUMBOLDT FIRE DISTRICT ABOUT ITS STAFFING CHALLENGES AND ITS FUTURE.

COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT".

LIVE CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM >> FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT".

I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THERE'S FEW CALLINGS OR PROFESSIONS IN MODERN LIFE THAT DEMONSTRATE SELFLESSNESS AND BRAVERY AS PART OF ITS BASIC DESCRIPTION.

THERE ARE A FEW, TEACHERS AND NURSES AND SUCH, BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY EVEN FEWER JOBS WHERE ONE'S OWN PERSONAL SAFETY IS OFTEN AT RISK.

ONE OF THOSE PROFESSIONS, AS WE ALL REMEMBER SO VIVIDLY FROM THE AFTERMATH OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS ARE FIREFIGHTERS.

WE WERE STRUCK THAT DAY BY THE BRAVERY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO, DESPITE THE ABSOLUTE TERROR AND CHAOS OF THAT MORNING, RUSHED HEADLONG INTO DANGER AND UP THE STAIRS OF A BURNING BUILDING.

IT WAS A BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO AN ETHOS OF SELF-SACRIFICE AND COURAGE.

THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE WHOLE JOB IS WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO SAVE LIVES, PRESERVE PROPERTY, AND HELP PEOPLE.

THEY REPRESENT THE BEST INCLINATIONS OF OUR SPECIES, AND LARGELY MANAGE TO AVOID ALL THE POLITICAL NOISE AND DIVISION THAT PLAGUES SO MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF MODERN LIFE.

THEY ARE REAL HEROES AND THEY GET PAID A WAGE TO BE OUR BUFFER AGAINST CHAOS AND PAIN, DISLOCATION AND DEATH.

YET, WHO WATCHES OUT FOR THEM?

HUMBOLDT FIRE DISTRICT IS THE EUREKA AREA'S PROFESSIONAL FIRE AGENCY, AND IN RECENT INTERVIEWS, CHIEF SEAN ROBERTSON AND FIRE CAPTAIN BRANDON HARLANDER SPOKE ON THE CHALLENGES FACING THEIR AGENCY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.

THEY'LL BE HERE IN A FEW SHORT MOMENTS TO DISCUSS THEIR PROFESSION, THE STATE OF THEIR AGENCY, AND HOW THE REST OF US CAN HELP MAKE SURE THAT WHEN FOLKS ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF ASSISTANCE, SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO PROVIDE IT.

BUT FIRST, THE NEWS.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO A SHERIFF'S OFFICE PLAN TO CONTRACT WITH A PRODUCTION CREW FROM ON PATROL: LIVE.

THE REELZ CHANNEL REALITY PROGRAM FOLLOWS THE WELL-TROD PATH OF COPS AND OTHER POLICE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS, PROVIDING A CREW TO FOLLOW DEPUTIES AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR WORK.

IT HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF A HIT FOR THE REELZ CHANNEL.

THE BOARD APPROVED A YEAR-LONG ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH HALF MOON PICTURES, WHICH PRODUCES THE SHOW.

SHERIFF HONSAL TOLD THE BOARD THAT THE SHOW ISN'T A SENSATIONAL AS OTHER COP SHOWS AND WILL HELP LOCAL RESIDENTS AND EVERYONE APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND CARE THAT LOCAL DEPUTIES BRING TO THEIR PROFESSION.

THAT OPINION IS CONTRARY TO THE TAKE OF SOME ONLINE CRITICS WHO CLAIM THE PRESENCE OF A FILM CREW CAN ENCOURAGE COWBOY BEHAVIOR AND PUT THE PUBLIC AT INCREASED RISK.

HONSAL TOLD THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS AGREEMENT IS A TRIAL RUN AND THERE WILL BE A 45-DAY PROBATIONARY PERIOD DURING WHICH THE COUNTY CAN STILL BACK OUT.

>> THE REASON WHY THIS SHOW IS GOING BE IMPORTANT HERE AND THE REASON WHY I'M PUSHING THIS FORWARD IS TO TALK ABOUT AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES THAT WE DO HERE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

THE ONE THING THAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE IS WE DO TAKE PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITYING POLICES AND DO TAKE PRIDE IN HOW WE OFFER COMPASSIONATE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.

AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT HUMBOLDT COUNTY, PUT HUMBOLDT COUNTY ON THE MAP AND ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DIFFERENT.

CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WE ALSO ARE ALL ABOUT BUILDING TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS ANOTHER LAYER THAT WE CAN PRESENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WE DO HERE.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A TRIAL RUN.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS GOES, IF THIS DOES GET APPROVED.

WE DO HAVE EDITING CREDITS HERE AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THE THINGS THAT ARE PRESENTED IN THE MEDIA DOES CORRESPOND WITH HOW WE VIEW LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND SO THIS IS GOING BE, AGAIN, VERY IMPORTANT AND, AGAIN, ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

I THINK THIS GIVES A REAL FIRSTHAND VIEW OF WHAT OUR DEPUTIES ARE FACING OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, WHAT CRIMES THEY ARE FACING.

A LOT OF TIMES WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS, DRUG ADDICTION, THEFT, VIOLENCE, AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE FIRSTHAND IS THE DEPUTY'S POINT OF VIEW ON ALL THESE INCIDENTS.

AND IT GIVES A BETTER PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE OUT THERE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT GIVES PEOPLE PERSPECTIVE OF HOW THE LAWS AND HOW THEY ARE CHANGING AND HOW IT IS AFFECTING HOW WE DO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I BELIEVE THIS IS A POSITIVE THING.

I BELIEVE IT IS ULTIMATELY GOING BE A GREAT THING FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND SHOWS THEIR PROFESSIONALISM.

>> THE MEDIA OUTLET CAL MATTERS THIS WEEK PUBLISHED A STORY ABOUT THE POLITICAL DIVISIONS THAT ARE PLAGUING OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE EAST, SHASTA COUNTY.

THE STORY PROFILES CATHY DARLING ALLEN, SHASTA COUNTY'S FORMER ELECTION OFFICIAL.

SHE RECENTLY HAD TO RETIRE, DUE IN PART TO THE THREATS SHE'S STEADILY RECEIVED SINCE THE 2020 ELECTION.

MANY VOTERS IN THE AREA ARE CONVINCED THAT DONALD TRUMP WON THAT ELECTION AND THAT OFFICIALS LIKE HER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THEFT.

THREATS FROM THESE PARTISANS LED TO STRESS, AND ULTIMATELY TO A DIAGNOSIS OF HEART FAILURE, EVEN THOUGH SHE'D NEVER HAD HEART PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THAT ELECTION.

SHE HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY ACCUSED IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF ENGAGING IN BOTH SATANISM AND WITCHCRAFT.

THE STORY STATES, THE MOST COMMITTED MAGA ACTIVISTS HAVE CIRCULATED PETITIONS ACCUSING HER OF SEDITION AND TREASON.

SHE'S BEEN FOLLOWED WALKING TO HER CAR.

SOMEONE, SHE STILL ISN'T CERTAIN WHO, INSTALLED A TRAIL CAMERA BEHIND HER OFFICE, WHERE VOTES ARE COUNTED.

SHE WENT ON MEDICAL LEAVE IN DECEMBER AND OFFICIALLY RETIRED AS THE COUNTY'S REGISTRAR OF VOTERS IN EARLY MAY.

THE STORY POINTS OUT THAT SHASTA COUNTY HAS BECOME A NATIONAL SYMBOL, ROILED REPEATEDLY BY CLASHES OVER ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.

DEMOCRATS AND MODERATE REPUBLICANS IN SHASTA COUNTY SAY THEY ARE WORRIED THE ANGER AND DIVISION WILL POISON THE COMMUNITY FOR GOOD, AND THE GOALS OF THE ONGOING ASSAULT ON LOCAL INSTITUTIONS ARE INCREASINGLY UNCLEAR.

THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN SHASTA ARE ECHOING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

HOW MUCH DAMAGE AND CONTROVERSY CAN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM HANDLE?

CAN WE EVER HEAL FROM SUCH DIVISION?

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVE WE REACHED THE BOTTOM IN THIS LONG SLIDE TOWARD POLITICAL NIHILISM.

I'M NOW JOINED NOW VIA ZOOM BY CHIEF SEAN ROBERTSON AND FIRE CAPTAIN BRANDON HARLANDER FROM HUMBOLDT FIRE DISTRICT.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> HELLO.

>> HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I APPRECIATE YOU BEAMING IN VIA THE ZOOM MACHINE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT CAN BE A PAIN IN THE BUTT, SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THIS.

I'M INTERESTED IN THE ISSUES YOU ARE FACING AND THERE WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TO START GENERALLY, IT IS LARGELY A STAFFING ISSUE.

CHIEF, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE ISSUE IS WITH STAFFING AT THE HUMBOLDT FIRE DISTRICT AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO AMELIORATE THAT PROBLEM?

>> YES.

SO AT HUMBOLDT FIRE WE ARE HAVING A CRISIS WITH RETENTION.

WE HAVE LOST 17 PEOPLE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO OTHER AGENCIES.

WE HAVE LOST SEVERAL EMPLOYEES TO ARCATA FIRE FOLLOWING THEIR SPECIAL DISTRICT TAX IN 2020.

F >> YEAH.

>> SINCE COVID THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS ALMOST EVERY AGENCY IS HIRING FIREFIGHTERS AND COMPETING FOR THE SAME SMALLER POOL.

AND BECAUSE WE'RE ONE OF THE LOWER PAID AGENCIES IN THE STATE, WE ARE OFTEN UNABLE TO COMPETE, ESPECIALLY WITH AGENCIES IN THE BAY AREA AND EVEN OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBORS THAT ARE COMPARABLE IN TERMS OF CITY AND MUNICIPAL AGENCY WITH MORE THAN THREE STATIONS, SUCH AS REDDING AND --.

THEY GENERALLY PAY AROUND $30,000 MORE FOR ALMOST EVERY POSITION IN THE MUNICIPALITY, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR US, FOR FIREFIGHTERS.

>> WOW.

THAT IS QUITE A DIFFERENCE.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALWAYS DEALT WITH, LIKE MANY OTHER POSITIONS AND JOBS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

THE REAL PROBLEM, THOUGH, IS BECAUSE OF THE SMALLER POOL AND THE HIGHER COMPETITION, WE'RE HAVING A MUCH GREATER ISSUE BACK FILLING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT.

WE GENERALLY HAVE A RECRUITMENT ONE TO TWO TIMES A YEAR AND WE GENERALLY GET A GOOD POOL OF TWO TO FIVE CANDIDATES FROM THAT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> BUT THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD AN OPEN RECRUITMENT SINCE JANUARY AND INITIALLY WE GOT 25 APPLICANTS AND FROM THOSE WE DIDN'T GET ANY GREAT CANDIDATES.

AND SO IT IS JUST CONCERNING BECAUSE IF WE COULD NOT FILL THE VACANCIES WE HAVE, WE'RE ALREADY SO FAR BEHIND WITH OUR NUMBER OF STAFFING THAT WE HAVE HAD A STATION CLOSE.

>> YEAH.

>> SINCE APRIL 10.

>> SO CAN I ASK REAL QUICK, SO NORMALLY YOU HAVE FIVE STATIONS IN OPERATION AND NOW YOU ARE RUNNING ON FOUR, IS THAT CORRECT?

IS >> YES.

GOING BACK TO FIVE STATIONS AS OF THIS WEEK, BUT BECAUSE WE STILL ARE SHORT MANY PEOPLE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO STAFF FIVE STATIONS EVERY DAY.

>> HOW DOES THAT AFFECT, IN TERMS OF YOUR RESPONSE TIMES OR DEPLOYING IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?

DOES THAT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET SOMEWHERE QUICKLY?

>> YES.

IT GENERALLY AFFECTS OUR RESPONSE TIMES BY ONE TO THREE MINUTES, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE CALL IS.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT IS BASED ON THE DATA WE HAVE WITH STATION 4 BEING CLOSED.

SO STATION 1, OUR DOWNTOWN STATION AT SIXTH AND C AND STATION FIVE AT REDWOOD ACRES COVER FOR THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE, THAT IS WHERE YOU SEE THE CHANGE IN RESPONSE TIMES.

IT ALSO INCREASES THE CALL VOLUME TO THE OTHER TWO STATIONS AND CREATES A COMPOUNDING EFFECT.

>> BRANDON, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION AS WELL AS BEING A FIRE CAPTAIN, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES, SIR.

YES.

>> HOW DOES THE UNION FEEL ABOUT THESE STRUGGLES?

OBVIOUSLY YOUR ADMINISTRATORS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ARE GOING OUT AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

YOU HAVE SEEN SOME COME PATE RATS LEAVE TO GO TO ARCATA FIRE?

>> MORALE IS ACTUALLY ODDLY HIGH.

WE ARE SUPER FORTUNATE WE HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION.

I LOOK AT IT AS A PARTNERSHIP.

SOME PLACES IT IS CONFRONTATIONAL.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO BRIDGE THE RELATIONSHIP TO GET RID OF THE US VERSUS THEM RELATIONSHIP AND WORK MORE AS A TEAM BECAUSE IT IS A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US.

>> TRUE.

>> IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

WE HAVE WORKED HARD WITH ADMINISTRATION AND HOPING TO KEEP OUR NEW CONTRACT THAT CAME THROUGH AND KEEPS PEOPLE FROM LEAVING.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRUGGLES ONCE THOSE PEOPLE LEAVE WE CAN'T REPLACE THEM OFF THE STREET.

THE PEOPLE WE LOST IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ARE PEOPLE WITH 10 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

YOU CAN'T PROPAGATE THAT OVERNIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> IT TAKES YEARS TO GET TO THE LEVEL OF PEOPLE WE LOST.

BOTH SIDES ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE IT WORK, I FEEL LIKE.

>> YEAH.

>> SEAN CAN DISAGREE WITH ME IF HE WANTS, WE DISAGREE ALL THE TIME.

>> WE WORKED REALLY HARD TOGETHER.

>> YOU DID JUST APPROVE A CONTRACT AND A RAISE FOR FOLKS.

>> WE DID.

>> AT LEAST THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME IS YOU GUYS WERE IN A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE BECAUSE YOUR FINANCIAL PICTURE IS VERY COMPLICATED.

YOU ARE A JPA AMONG, I GUESS WHAT USED TO BE EUREKA FIRE AND THE HUMBOLDT FIRE DISTRICT NUMBER ONE SO YOU HAVE TWO SORT OF GOVERNMENT BODIES, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

WE HAVE TWO PARENT AGENCIES.

THE CITY, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, FUNDED BY SALES TAX, THE DISTRICT IS FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAX AND BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS.

SO TWO VERY DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THE CITY HAS A PRETTY BIG RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION FOR THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK IS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF QUALITY CANDIDATES AFTER COVID.

WHAT IS DRIVING THAT AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AMONG APPLICANTS?

IS IT JUST A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PERSON WHO IS APPLYING OR ARE PEOPLE MORE LIKE PRONE TO WAIT FOR THEIR IDEAL JOB?

>> FROM WHAT I SEE, WE WILL GET PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO LAUNDRY.

THAT CAN'T MAKE COFFEE.

WE HAD TO SHOW THEM HOW TO MOP A FLOOR.

IT IS A YOUNGER GENERATION, IT SEEMS LIKE.

BUT IT IS ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHY GO BE A FIREFIGHTER WHEN YOU CAN HAVE ALL THESE THINGS DOWN THE ROAD OR GO WORK A TECH JOB AND MAKE MORE MONEY, EVEN FOR BAY AREA STANDARDS.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAREER FOR A FIREFIGHTER IN 2008 AND TESTING WITH CITIES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

I REMEMBER TESTING FOR EUREKA, I WANT TO SAY THERE WAS CLOSE TO 500 PEOPLE FOR TWO JOBS.

AND NOW YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE AND GET HIRED.

WHAT DID WE HAVE, CHIEF, LAST MONTH?

WAS IT 25 PEOPLE?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

IT HAS FALLEN OFF A LOT.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHO WORK IN BAY AREA FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THEY JUMP FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THAT WAS UNHEARD OF 10 YEARS AGO, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.

>> WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A STAFF BORN AND BRED WITHIN THOSE FOUR WALLS?

THERE HAS TO BE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND LEADERSHIP, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THERE IS HUGE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ESPECIALLY LEADERSHIP, LIKE BRANDON SAID, THE 17 PEOPLE LEFT HAD AT LEAST 10 OR MORE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

ALL THE PEOPLE WE LOST IN ARCATA WERE IN THAT EXPERIENCE.

WE LOST PEOPLE WITH 20 AND MORE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

THAT IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPLICATED PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF THE INCIDENTS WE RESPOND TO HERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF STRUCTURE FIRES WITH THE OLDER INSTRUCTION.

HAVING THAT KNOWLEDGE, HAVING GREAT LEADERSHIP MAKES US MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AT OUR JOBS AND IT HELPS US DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WE DEAL WITH, WITH MAINTAINING A GOOD BALANCE IN LIFE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.

BECAUSE NOW WE'RE EXPECTED AND EXPECTING OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO HAVE A 30-YEAR CAREER.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL JOB THAT IS PART OF WHY WE LIKE IT.

BECAUSE IT CHALLENGES US IN ALL THOSE WAYS.

THERE IS A LOT MORE AWARENESS OF HOW TO BALANCE AND DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS AND BE MORE RESILIENT.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, SO I THINK PEOPLE WITH INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND STRONG LEADERSHIP IS NOT JUST GREAT ON THE FIRE GROUND OR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, BUT IT HAS A MUCH GREATER IMPACT ON OUR FIREFIGHTERS AS A WHOLE.

>> I'M CURIOUS THAT WITH YOUR FUNDING SET UP THE WAY IT IS, CAN YOU SPEND MONEY YOU GET FROM EUREKA CITY THROUGH THEIR SALES TAX ON ENFORCEMENT OR SERVICES PROVIDED WITHIN THE HUMBOLDT FIRE DISTRICT OR ARE THEY MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE?

>> THEY GO TWO THE GENERAL EXPENDITURES.

THEY ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE.

WE HAVE AN OPERATING BUDGET THIS NEXT YEAR $11.2 MILLION.

THEN WE PROVIDE COST SHARE RATIO AGREED ON BY OUR JPA BOARD AND THAT DETERMINES WHAT EACH PARENT AGENCY'S SHARE IS.

SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE LET THEM KNOW WHAT THEIR APPORTIONMENT IS GOING BE AND THEY SEND US THE CONTRIBUTION.

SO WE'RE THE STEWARDS OF THE MONEY THAT THEY GIVE US THROUGH WHAT THE BOARD HAS APPROVED IN THE BUDGET.

SO WHAT IS IN OUR BUDGET IS ALL OF OUR STAFF, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 99% OF OUR BUDGET AND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE AND OTHER SUPPLIES WE NEED TO DO OUR DAILY WORK.

OUR PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACILITY AND APPARATUS UPGRADES AND UPDATES AND MAINTENANCE.

SO WHEN WE DO HAVE TO UPDATE OUR STATIONS, LIKE WE ARE DOING AT STATIONS 1, 3, AND 2, IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND WE NEED AN APPARATUS, THE PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THOSE EXCLUSIVELY AS YOU SAID.

>> SO SORT OF LIKE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OR WHATEVER FROM YOUR PARENT AGENCIES?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT IS KIND OF A STANDARD THING WITH THIS TYPE OF JPA AGREEMENT.

I WILL SAY HAVING RESEARCHED THIS GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THERE ARE VERY FEW JPAs OR CONSOLIDATIONS OR MERGES WITH A CITY AND FIRE DISTRICT.

>> YEAH.

>> MOST OF THEM ARE EITHER CITIES OR SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

WE ARE PRETTY UNCOMMON.

UKIA IS THE NEAREST ONE, BUT THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT MODEL.

THEY ONLY HAVE TWO STATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM WHEREAS WE HAVE FIVE.

SO IT IS MORE COMPLICATED.

>> YEAH.

THAT COMPLICATION MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO PLAN FINANCIALLY AND TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND, RIGHT?

>> WELL, IT MAKES IT MORE COMPLICATED.

I WOULDN'T SAY IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD PLANNING IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE TUMULTUOUS TIMES EVERYONE HAS GONE THROUGH AND STAFFING ISSUES RESULT OF THAT.

THE PLANS HAVE NOT ALWAYS COME TO FRUITION BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE OTHER FACTORS OCCURRING.

>> YEAH.

>> THE DIFFICULTY OR THE CHALLENGE FOR BUDGETING SPECIFICALLY IS WE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES WITH PROPERTY TAX WHICH IS STABLE, DOESN'T VARY TOO MUCH.

SALES TAX, WHICH HAS VARIED QUITE A BIT THROUGH, ESPECIALLY THROUGH COVID WHEN EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN AND SALES TAX PROJECTIONS WERE BAD.

MY EXPERIENCE IS THE GOOD PLANNING HELPS US DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS.

EVEN LOOKING AT HOW DO WE PROVIDE FOR RAISES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES THAT DEAL WITH INFLATION.

OBVIOUSLY, EXPECTING A 7% OR UP TO 12% INFLATION RATE WITHIN THREE YEARS' TIME IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AND HAS A HUGELY DETRIMENTAL AFFECT ON ALL THE FAMILIES, NOT JUST FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS, BUT EVERYWHERE.

HOW DO WE ADJUST TO THAT?

HOW DO WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE SO WE ARE NOT GOING UP AND DOWN SO MUCH.

MY EXPERIENCE IS IF YOU PLAN WELL, IF YOU WORK TOGETHER, WHICH I BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE.

WE ARE ABLE TO BETTER PREPARE FOR THOSE.

I'M NOT SAYING AS YOU POSTULATED IT IS NOT THAT VERY CHALLENGING AND VERY COMPLICATED TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

IT CERTAINLY IS.

>> IT IS INTERESTING.

THERE SEEMS LIKE TWO ISSUES HERE, ONE IS FUNDING AND ONE IS STAFFING, THEY ARE RELATED, BUT THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS.

ON THE FUNDING END, MEASURE H PASSED JUST PRIOR TO COVID, BUT LIKE YOU WERE SAYING THE DROP IN SALES TAX BASICALLY TOOK THE FLOOR OUT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, ACCRUAL AND BASICALLY LIMITED ITS EFFECTIVENESS FOR YOU GUYS.

IS THAT THE CASE?

>> WELL, IT HAD AN EFFECT.

WE WEREN'T AS AFFECTED BY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.

WE DID NOT RELEASE STAFF OR CLOSE STATIONS BECAUSE OF FUNDING.

WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR PLANNED RAISES.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO WEATHER THAT PARTLY BECAUSE WE HAD SOME RESERVES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE.

SO WE WERE FORTUNATE THROUGH THAT, BUT, YEAH, MEASURE H HAS ALLOWED US TO BE IN THE POSITION WE ARE IN TODAY.

IT ALLOWED US TO PREPARE BETTER FOR THE FUTURE.

IT ALLOWED US TO COME TO THIS CONTRACT THAT WE JUST AGREED ON AND MOVE FORWARD THROUGH LAST WEEK THAT WE'RE HOPING WILL HELP US WITH OUR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT ISSUES, AS BRANDON SAID.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF CONTINUING TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

>> NOW, THAT IS THE FINANCIAL QUESTION.

THE STAFFING QUESTION, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE NOT GETTING AS MANY GOOD CANDIDATES.

BRANDON, WHO MAKES A GOOD FIREFIGHTER AND WOULD YOU JUST ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO ARE PROMISING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO APPLY FOR THESE JOBS?

AND HOW DO THEY DO SO?

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ATTRIBUTES IS A SELF-STARTER.

SEAN HAS HAD A LONGER CAREER AND CAN SPOT A WAY BETTER FIREFIGHTER THAN I CAN.

A SELF-STARTER, SOMEONE THAT IS MOTIVATED AND WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WHAT I DON'T WANT IS JUST A FIREFIGHTER TO FILL UP A SEAT.

I WANT THAT FIREFIGHTER THAT WANTS TO BE A CHIEF ONE DAY, THAT WANTS TO BE AN ENGINEER, THAT WANTS TO BE A CAPTAIN.

THEY WANT TO PROGRESS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE THE PLACE BETTER NOT JUST TAKE UP SOME SPACE.

>> YEAH.

>> FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS.

AND THE OTHER PART WHY THEY SHOULD DO IT, IT IS THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

I WISH I HAD STARTED YOUNGER.

IT IS -- MY DAY IS DIFFERENT EVERY DAY.

I MIGHT HAVE THE SAME CALLING AND SAME PEOPLE OFTEN, BUT IT IS A ROLLER COASTER SOME DAYS OF THINGS WE DO.

ANYTHING FROM LIGHTING A HOT WATER HEATER TO CHANGING SMOKE ALARMS TO WE HAD A BEAR TRAPPED IN A TREE A FEW WEEKS AGO.

IT WILL CHALLENGE YOU IN WAYS YOU CAN'T THINK OF.

WE ARE HAVING OUR CADET PROGRAM, JUNIOR FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM.

>> WE HAVE 10 CADETS, FOUR POTENTIAL JUNIOR FIREFIGHTERS.

WE ARE DOING INTERVIEWS NEXT MONTH.

>> WHAT DOES THAT INVOLVE FOR THE JUNIOR FIREFIGHTERS?

DO THEY TRAIN WITH YOU UNTIL THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH?

>> THE CONCEPT IS WE WILL HAVE TRAINING WITH THEM ONCE A MONTH WHERE THEY GET ORIENTED TO THE CAREER.

AND ONCE THEY DEVELOP FROM THERE, WE, YEAH, WE DO SOME TRAINING WITH THEM.

STARTING WITH BASIC FIRST AID, LEARNING ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN JUST BEING ABLE TO REALLY FIND OUT WHAT THE JOB IS ABOUT AND HOW THEY CAN PROGRESS IN IT.

IDEALLY, IT IS THE DOOR TO A PATHWAY THAT IS THEN THROUGH THE CADET PROGRAM WHERE IT IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM THAT IS AN INTERNSHIP WHERE WE PAY FOR ALL OF YOUR TRAINING.

>> WOW.

>> AND YOU ARE ABLE TO GET CERTIFICATIONS TO BECOME A CAREER FIREFIGHTER WITH HUMBOLDT FIRE.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO AMELIORATE OUR STAFFING ISSUE?

>> YEAH.

>> THESE ARE TWO ISSUES WE RECOGNIZE, IF YOU ARE LOCAL AND LOOKING FOR A GREAT CAREER, WE OFFER THAT.

THERE ARE GREAT BENEFITS, AS BRANDON SAID, AND IF YOU ARE FROM THE AREA YOUR FAMILY IS HERE.

THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO WORK HARDER TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS BEING A GREAT CAREER AND DEVELOP FROM WITHIN.

ANOTHER THING WE'RE WORKING ON IS THE PATHWAY TO GETTING A CERTIFICATION AS A FIREFIGHTER IN CALIFORNIA IS CHALLENGING FOR US BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CERTIFIED TESTING CENTER.

AND THE NEAREST ONE IS IN SANTA ROSA OR IN SHASTA.

SO IT IS A BIG BARRIER TO FOLKS LOCALLY GETTING THE TRAINING THEY NEED IF THEY ARE WORKING OR GOING COLLEGE OR WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING.

SO COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS HAS HAD A FIRE ACADEMY SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT CAL FIRE AND THE FOREST SERVICE, SEASON WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS.

THE GOAL IS FOR THAT TO BECOME AN ACCREDITED FIREFIGHTER ONE ACADEMY SO WE HAVE A LOCAL OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP LOCAL PEOPLE AND THAT'S JUST ANOTHER ASPECT OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

SOME OTHER ELEMENTS IS WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY, LIKE BRANDON SAID, UNION AND MANAGEMENT, ON A LOT OF POLICY CHANGES, ON A LOT OF INTERNAL TRAINING CHANGES SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP OUR PERSONNEL MORE EASILY.

AND ALSO JUST IDENTIFY SOME OF THE LEARNING CHANGES WE ARE SEEING WITH DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

WE HAVE TO ADAPT -- >> YEAH.

>> TO THINGS BEING DIFFERENT AND PEOPLE BEING DIFFERENT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT IS WHAT MAKES US SUCCESSFUL.

YOU ASKED WHAT MAKES A GOOD FIREFIGHTER.

IT IS NOT JUST SOMEBODY WHO LOOKS FOR A CHALLENGE, IT IS SOMEBODY WHO IS CURIOUS AND ADAPTABLE.

BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN THIS JOB AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO IT AND DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT FROM US.

THEY CALL US, THEY WANT US TO SHOW UP, THEY WANT US TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM, WHETHER IT IS A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT, A HEART ATTACK, A HOUSE ON FIRE OR LIKE BRANDON SAID, A BEAR STUCK IN A TREE.

AND WE'VE HAD ALL KINDS OF CREATURES AND PEOPLE STUCK IN ALL KINDS OF PLACES.

WE WANT TO HELP GET THEM UNSTUCK.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR ALL WORK AND YOUR CAREER OF SERVICE BECAUSE YOU ARE RETIRING.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR A CAREER WELL SERVED AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST NEON GALACTIC, COVERING THE WEIRD PHENOMENON THAT HAS KEPT YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE WONDERING.

STAY TUNED.

STAY INFORMED.