Letters to the Editor Urge Support for Measure F

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Remember opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of Redheaded Blackbelt nor have we checked the letters for accuracy.

From Arcata resident Thomas Bethune:

Dear Editor,

I have a few comments about ballot MEASURE F in the upcoming election. The purpose of the measure is to provide full funding for the Arcata Fire District.

The name, Arcata Fire District, does not tell it all as the district covers the north bay area, including Manila, Bayside, Downtown Arcata, Fickle Hill, suburban Arcata, Valley West and McKinleyville. The district provides coverage from three strategically placed stations. Up until earlier this year those stations were staffed 24/7, but because of budget shortfall, there is only enough funding for two of the stations to be minimally staffed at any one time. In an attempt to provide coverage, the staffed stations rotate weekly, with each station closed every third week.

Here is an example of how I perceive that these closures could affect us. Take the Arcata Fire District’s McKinleyville station. It is centrally located in the middle of the business district. When staffed, the response time for emergency calls to residences, businesses, or even the airport, is rapid. Now, when a call comes in during the station’s closure, the response must come from either the Mad River, and/or downtown stations (if they are not on another call), increasing the response time.

The recent fire that occurred at Big Blue Restaurant on the Arcata Plaza is a good example of the importance of a timely response (the fire was stopped before it had a chance to spread to the rest of the block). Had the downtown station been closed, the response time would have been at least five minutes longer as the nearest response would come from Mad River. That delay may have been enough time for the fire to fully engulf the building, and could have destroyed a significant portion of downtown Arcata.

Measure F, if passed, will provide funding to fully staff the three stations. Furthermore, it will provide funding for much needed maintenance on the fire engines, training and, on a long-term basis, provide capital to replace aging equipment.

As we all can see, the fire danger is ever increasing. We need a fully staffed and equipped department of professional emergency personnel. Please join me in voting YES ON MEASURE F!

Thomas Bethune
Arcata

From Arcata resident Jeff Self:

Dear Community,

As raging wildfires and skyrocketing insurance rates become the norm

in California, we need to consider the importance of adequate fire protection for our communities.  Reinstating lost firefighter positions to keep all three Arcata/McKinleyville stations open is one way to improve local safety.   Make this happen by voting YES on Measure F.

Jeff Self
Arcata

From McKinleyville residents Beth and Marc Chaton:

Dear Community,

We have been residents of McKinleyville for over 35 years and it has always been a comfort to know that the fire station on Central Avenue was staffed by the Arcata Fire Department.  We cannot allow for the possibility of that station closing and our having to rely on medical or fire response from teams that are 3-4 times further away.  We need to support our first responders and our community by voting YES on Measure F.

Beth & Marc Chaton
McKinleyville