The Ripon Consolidated Fire District will conduct a Town Hall Q&A tonight at 6 p.m. at the Ripon Senior Center, 142 S. Wilma Ave.
RCFD is seeking support for its plans to introduce a tax measure in early 2026.
Fire Chief Eric DeHart said that a special tax was passed in the mid-1980s but it was “flat rate,” adding, “it was not enough to keep up with inflation.”
A special tax would require two-third votes from those in RCFD’s 56-square-mile coverage area that goes beyond Ripon city limits – Carrolton Road to the east to Lone Tree Road (north), west to Manteca Road, and along the boundaries of the Stanislaus River to the south.
A Prop 218 ballot measure was voted down in August 2024 that would have increased property-related taxes in order to fund staffing and reopen the unmanned Fire Station 3.
RCFD has continued on despite the limited resources and rising costs in providing quality services that also includes ALS (Advanced Life Support) paramedics.
“Our goal is to deliver the best services,” DeHart said.
But it’s also been a challenge.
Last week, for example, RCFD were dispatched to two emergencies at the same time.
Lightning strikes from a fast-moving weather system caused a vegetation fire near the end of Acacia Avenue along the freeway while another was structure fire at the Modesto Irrigation District substation on Stockton Avenue near 5th Street.
Firefighters prioritized the structure fire because of the extreme electrical hazard – local firefighters were assisted by Manteca firefighters in containing the vegetation fire.
“We’ve been lucky,” DeHart said.
At tonight’s meeting, RCFD will discuss the challenges they face while maintaining staffing, and the impact of service levels, including unanswered calls and delayed responses due to consecutive emergencies.
For more information, log on to info@riponfire.com.
Accident in front of fire station
Ripon Fire Station 3 is located in the fast-growing northeast section of Ripon.
It’s also where a vehicle accident occurred Thursday at River Road and North Ripon Road, directly in front of the fire station.
Ripon Consolidated Fire District units were dispatched to the area following report that the vehicle accident was the results of a pursuit by a law enforcement agency that originated in Riverbank.
“Upon arrival, crews found one victim trapped in the driver’s seat,” said local firefighters via social media on Thursday.
They added, “Fire personnel removed the driver’s door to safely extricate the individual, who was then transported for medical care.”
RCFD also noted the Station 3 is unmanned and serves an important area, which “highlights the challenges our district faces in meeting increasing demands with limited staffing and resources.”
