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Fee Dispute Could End 911 Service For 500 Square Miles Of Tahoe National Forest

FORESTHILL (CBS13) — A 500 square-mile area of the Tahoe National Forest could soon lose emergency response to 911 calls as an independent fire district claims the county is withholding government money owed to them for their services.

It's almost taken for granted that a 911 call will send help on its way, but that critical service could end soon if a decision isn't made.

Ian Gow is a Foresthill fire chief and says his small agency, the Foresthill Fire Protection District, has been keeping people safe in a portion of the Tahoe National Forest. He says without more money, the department could go under, but Placer County officials could help.

"The county is getting money to provide a service that we are providing for free.," he said. "If we could get a share of that money, we could leave responders here in town while we handle all those calls. That money is already allocated; the county just keeps it."

The U.S. Forest Service currently gives Placer County more than $600,000 a year, but John McEldowney with the county's office of emergency services says they can't afford to give any of that money to the district.

"If we were to give money to foresthill, then that would open up potentially all the other special districts within the county," he said.

He says if the district wants more money, it can ask local residents for it.

"Why should the county subsidize one specific fire district over another?" he said. "They can go to their voters, they can decide what they want to do and how much service level they want to have within their district."

But the Foresthill department says its residents are already paying their fair share.

"Our public in Foresthill already pays a Cal Fire tax of $115 a home," Gow said. "They're taxed enough. It's our opinion if we ask for more money, we will get turned down."

The fire board will vote on whether to end service to the area on Thursday.

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