The Board of Supervisors Tuesday signed off on an “automatic aid” agreement between the Riverside County Fire Department and the city of Riverside Fire Department, guaranteeing that the latter will make resources available to handle blazes and other emergencies within the county jurisdiction around March Air Reserve Base.
In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board authorized county fire Chief Bill Weiser to enter into the compact with the city at a projected annual cost to the county of $416,000, of which three-quarters will have to be siphoned from a contingency, or reserve, fund, according to documents posted to the board agenda. The remainder will be paid out of the departmental budget.
The county and city last entered into an automatic aid agreement in 2018. The new one, which is retroactive to July 1, 2024 and expires at the end of the 2028-29 fiscal year, specifies that city firefighters and equipment will be available to provide services across an expanded area, known as the “Reuse Territory,” surrounding the air base.
“The county and city will benefit with the Automatic Aid Fire Protection Services, by securing automatic aid in fire protection, in the protection of life and property and in … providing medical aid for the residents and businesses … in the expanded unincorporated area,” according to a county statement.
The March Joint Powers Authority, which governs the space that was detached from March during the nationwide Base Realignment & Closure overhaul ordered by Congress in the 1990s to cut military spending, previously approved auto aid arrangements between the county and city.
County fire crews will continue to respond to meet the city’s needs during wildfires and other crises as part of the agreement.