Clark County approves budget for Mount Charleston firefighters

Clark County commissioners on Tuesday approved a $1.5 million budget for the next fiscal year for the Mount Charleston Fire Protection District as officials continue working on transitioning away from receiving fire service from the Nevada Division of Forestry.

The county Fire Department will be responsible for providing fire service to the mountain community starting July 1. It’s a move state and county leaders have anticipated as the Division of Forestry shifts away from fighting structure fires.

Officials said county taxes won’t increase as a result of the transition. The county plans to hire Division of Forestry firefighters already at the mountain to preserve the continuity of service.

Current plans call for the county to take over two Division of Forestry fire stations — a main one in Kyle Canyon that’s staffed 24 hours a day throughout the year and a seasonal fire station that’s staffed in Lee Canyon from May through October.

In recent years, the Division of Forestry has focused more on fighting wildfires and made similar transitions in other counties as rural forested regions gained more residential growth. Most recently, state services were transitioned in Elko County in January. Washoe, Douglas and Storey counties have also taken over the agency’s duties in the past few years.

Officials from both agencies said they anticipate a smooth transition on July 1.

Assistant Clark County Fire Chief Larry Haydu said it’s mainly a matter of working out smaller details on the pending move, such as equipment and technical details. Forest Service water rights are present at one of the Division of Forestry station properties, for example.

The Kyle Canyon station has about eight employees who work rotating shifts two at a time. The seasonal Lee Canyon station has four when it’s staffed.

“The transition’s been moving forward,” said Scott Rasmussen, state fire management officer for the Division of Forestry. “There are a few small details that we’re still working out between us and Clark County on some equipment. That doesn’t seem to be a huge holdup.”

Before the transition, Clark County paid the Division of Forestry for the staff and equipment for emergency services. In 2013, the county provided about $1.2 million.

County Commissioner Larry Brown, whose district encompasses Mount Charleston, said the planning is going well, adding that there are still details to work out.

For example, officials don’t know yet what the new county firefighters’ salaries will be compared to their state pay.

The Fire Department also has about 30 unpaid, volunteer firefighters at Mount Charleston who have been in place since before the transition.

Also, the Spring Mountains, including Kyle and Lee canyons, are guarded by several U.S. Forest Service fire stations each summer, when wildland fire dangers are greater.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.