Supervisors approve Fire Authority lease of Palomar Mountain VFD station

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors, who are also the board of the San Diego County Regional Fire Authority, voted 5-0 Dec. 15 to approve a lease between the SDCRFA and the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department for SDCRFA use of the Palomar Mountain fire station.

The county will lease the station for $1 per year for a 50-year period with the entire $50 being paid at the beginning of the lease. The county will also be responsible for utilities, custodial, and maintenance costs which are estimated at $3,700 per month.

"The volunteer fire station and equipment currently on Palomar Mountain are vital for the safety of residents living in the area," said Supervisor Bill Horn. "Much of the equipment and even the station have fallen into disrepair in recent years. This 50-year lease agreement will allow the County Fire Authority to take control of the fire station and make improvements where needed without interfering with activities of the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department or jeopardizing public safety."

The Palomar Mountain fire station is located at 21610 Crestline Road. The fire station property itself is 3.29 acres, and the 7,098 square foot fire station includes an administrative office, sleeping quarters, and apparatus bays.

The San Diego County Regional Fire Authority includes the territory served by the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department. The creation of the county fire agency initially covered territory not within the boundaries of a public agency but served by a volunteer fire department, although volunteer fire departments retained their autonomy and began working together with the paid firefighters covering those areas. In 2011, five county service areas covering fire protection and emergency medical services, including the CSA for Palomar Mountain, were brought into the SDCRFA.

In 2010 the county supervisors accepted a comprehensive fire deployment study and approved the implementation plan for that study. SDCRFA staff has worked with the county's Department of General Services to identify specific needs and prioritize projects. The lease of the Palomar Mountain property will allow the county to make improvements to the fire station when funding becomes available.

The Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department will act as an advisory board for the lease and will not have a sublease of the property. Either party can terminate the lease upon 90 days notice.