Charging for answering the call–that’s what’s going to happen next time firefighters respond to an emergency in some East Bay cities.

The trend of charging fees comes as fire officials say they’re having trouble making end’s meet.  

Brentwood is just one of a handful of cities that the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District services and that’s the problem.

This area is growing fast, and it is outpacing the revenue to pay for services. 

Take a look at this graphic. This is what was passed recently:

It shows some of the fees first responders will now charge when responding to such emergencies as car accidents, hazardous material cases, and illegal fires.

The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District covers 250 square miles, 120,000 residents and 8,000 calls a year. 

KRON4 spoke with the chief about what his district is facing and how they are trying to deal with this problem.

“We have a very large area,” East Bay Contra Costa Fire Protection District Chief Brian Helmick said. “A study said we need nine fire departments. We have 3. We are not trying to nickel-and-dime. We are trying to serve the needs. So, we will charge the fees to the insurance companies when it is necessary.”

This situation is not unique. Currently, the Contra Costa Fire Protection District charges first responder fees that are similar in pricing.

The San Ramon Fire Protection District is another agency that has a similar fee assessment.

The chief says they did this in lieu of raising a parcel tax, so it is a compromise.

And it could be readjusted. 

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