A combination of development fees and sales tax revenue has allowed the Lathrop Manteca Fire District to keep up with the demand that growth is placing on the sprawling district.

According to the first ever annual report released this week by the agency, the number of calls responded to in 2021 was 51 percent higher than it was in 2016 – an increase from 2,549 calls five years ago compared to 3,871 calls last year.

With the City of Lathrop accounting for only 73 percent of the total calls responded to by the district, the 1,039 calls that were ran in 2021 were from rural stations that serve the county areas around the City of Manteca – the northeast part of town off of Lathrop Road, and the rural southern portion of town off of Union Road south of the Highway 120 Bypass – are a testament to the wide expanse of the district and the territory that first responders are responsible to cover.

And that growth is taxing not just the response, but also the management and planning that goes into keeping up with the demand.

With approximately 12 percent of new housing permits being issued for multi-family residential units – apartment complexes that are supposed to aid with providing alternative and affordable housing options – the district is working overtime to ensure that they’re able to keep up with the demand that new residents and businesses are generating.

Lathrop has emerged as a destination for logistical companies looking to take advantage of the city’s location – situated at the confluence of California’s main arterial interstate and a pass-through to the state’s major north-south highway – and construction of large warehouse and light industrial buildings has been growing for years. With some buildings topping 1 million square feet the district has been forced to add apparatus capable of fighting fires in such locations and create site-specific plans to create the best outcome for the employees tasked with working there in the event of an emergency.

All of that growth coupled with the district’s other unique challenges – a fertilizer plant is in operation within the city, and Lathrop is also home to a major river as well as a Union Pacific switchyard and offloading station – adds to the dynamic nature of ensuring the safety of a growing city and region.

A copy of the district’s annual report can be found by visiting the Lathrop Manteca Fire District’s website at www.lmfire.org.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.