By Mike Sprague
Whittier Daily News
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All Rights Reserved
LA HABRA HEIGHTS, Calif. — Quicker fire department responses to the west side of this city and nearby unincorporated areas are expected under an automatic aid agreement reached by the city and Los Angeles County.
The memorandum of understanding went into effect Sept. 1.
“It should really give peace of mind to our residents to know that they not only have our first-class fire and paramedic service, but also have as backup Los Angeles when it’s needed,” City Manager Ron Bates said.
Under the agreement, county fire trucks would go to the west side of La Habra Heights, while city firefighters would go to unincorporated areas between the city and La Habra.
The county has about 30 of these agreements with other cities, including Santa Fe Springs.
“They improve service for both agencies,” said Gary Lockhart, chief deputy for the county Fire Department. “Because (city) boundaries are so irregular, if you have a station closer, we can share resources.”
Even with automatic aid, trucks from the department with jurisdiction still will show up, Lockhart said.
Not included in the agreement is the east side of La Habra Heights.
Lockhart said the east side wasn’t included because city trucks can get there in good time, and there wouldn’t have been enough reciprocity from the county with the additional area.
“There has to be mutual benefit to both jurisdictions,” Lockhart said. “That’s not the case on the east side. Their level of service is high enough.”
La Habra Heights resident George Edwardz, who has pushed for an east side station on Harbor Boulevard, said he is disappointed the agreement doesn’t cover his area of town.
“We’ll have to be self-sufficient, and we’ll have to provide a station on that side,” Edwardz said.
Bates and fire Chief John Nielsen are now preparing answers to 21 questions about a fire station on Harbor Boulevard.
The questions include the cost of a new dormitory and its maintenance, earthquake issues and noise.
The agreement also requires two joint training sessions of the city and county firefighters to be held every year.