Three groups of Amador County firefighters are making strides toward consolidation. The Amador Fire Protection District, Jackson Volunteer Fire Department and Sutter Creek Fire Protection District have been in negotiations, with a possible goal of gathering together into one larger entity.

This is not a development without some history. Initial steps toward this end were taken more than 10 years ago, in the mid-1990s, when AFPD and city of Jackson first began to explore the possible benefits of a regional fire department. During those early stages, progress was slowed by difficulties in dealing with lines of authority and shared representation on decision-making boards. Over time, emerging realization of the benefits available to all concerned led to the formation in 2003 of the Amador Fire Protection Authority.

Since its formation, AFPA's two main goals have remained constant: funding and full-time firefighting. Efforts at funding have achieved some results, from two main sources. Amador County and its cities have begun to impose fees on new development in the form of Community Facilities Districts. Also, the county is in its second year of a 10-year plan to shift a percentage of funding derived from Proposition 172 for sales tax revenue to fire services, rather than reserving the entirety of those funds for law enforcement. Full-time firefighting is naturally dependent upon adequate funding.

Fire protection in Amador County is presently shared among seven entities with representatives on the AFPA: the AFPD, fire departments in Lockwood, Jackson, Sutter Creek, Ione, Plymouth and Jackson Valley. Geographically, the bulk of the coverage falls on the shoulders of AFPD, which covers most of the county's unincorporated areas, the costs of which are borne by the county.

Local voters may recall Measure L in 2006, aimed at providing funding for paid firefighters by a quarter-cent increase in the local sales tax. This measure did not pass, unable to reach the two-thirds majority required for its passage. Some of the discussion among the three firefighting entities revolves around placement of another measure on the ballot in the not-too-distant future. A meeting of the FPA yesterday occurred after deadline.

"AFPA is moving in the direction of another measure on the ballot, according to Jackson Fire Chief Mark Morton, speaking to the Jackson City Council Monday night. "With the unity of joint powers, we should be able to go knock on doors with a clear plan."

Morton went on to explain the increasing pressure on local firefighting teams, saying, "the number of volunteers is slowly diminishing. What we hope to achieve is 24/7 staffing, with one paid firefighter at each of four stations. One would be at Jackson/Sutter Creek, one at Pine Grove, in what is known as Battalion 10. Another would be at Battalion 20, which includes Plymouth, Willow Springs and Fiddletown. The fourth would be at the valleys, meaning Jackson Valley and Ione."

Captain Franck Tremaine of the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department also addressed the council, adding that "there are issues on the sides of all three affected groups, but we should be able to present a comprehensive plan to the public. We are enthusiastic and confident."

A powerful impetus for favoring consolidation is the lure of lowered insurance rates. At Monday night's meeting, Councilwoman Connie Gonsalves plumbed her knowledge of the insurance business to briefly outline the standards by which fire insurance premiums are determined. "Public Protection Classes are rated from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best protected," she said. "San Francisco, for instance, rates a 2, while truly remote areas like Lake Kirkwood rate a 10. Jackson and Sutter Creek are 5s, while rural areas around here are as high as 8."

If a fire district improves its Public Protection Classification, homeowners and businesses in the community often save money on their insurance premiums, according to Gonsalves.

ISO, the Insurance Services Office, determines a community's rating for insurance purposes. On their Web site, they advocate improvement of fire protection services in everyone's community. Among their many reasons for advocacy, they include, "If property owners spend their savings in the community, the extra cash can help improve the local economy. And a community with improved fire protection may find it easier to attract new business, increasing jobs and boosting the economy even more."