RIPON, Calif. — In just a few seconds Friday, more people drove past Ripon Consolidated Fire District Station 1 than the number of first responders on duty inside.
"Currently we have one station staffed full-time serving a population of just over 20,000," said Battalion Chief Pat Burns. "We are short. We are down to four people on duty today.”
Four people aren’t enough to staff all their fire trucks and ambulances, so tough decisions had to be made.
"What that means unfortunately is our ambulance is shut down. It was shut down yesterday for 24 hours and then again today for 24 hours until we get a paramedic back," said Burns. "It's not an easy feeling."
He hopes to have at least one ambulance staffed by Saturday morning, but even that feels too late to local business owner Angie Morrow.
"It's scary. Because having an elderly care home, I know the importance of needing an ambulance when I need to call 911," said Morrow. "It could absolutely be life or death."
All day Wednesday and Thursday, the five to seven ambulances needed per day in the Ripon area had to come from Stockton or Manteca, translating to an additional five to ten minutes waiting for a ride to the hospital. Fire officials say it doesn't have to be this way and it's up to voters now to decide.
"We are doing a Proposition 218 election currently," said Burns of the proposal that would increase tax on homes and apartments. "That funding is going to be used to increase our staffing to open a second station up."
The increased taxes would be $21 to $23 a month for a single-family home depending on the size and up to $16,124 per year for apartments with more than 100 units. Burns believes that the funding would be enough to hire staff to re-open a currently vacant station.
"They risk their lives for us," said Morrow expressing support for the proposition. "They deserve to be equally paid."
Many firefighters are grateful for that support and are asking the community for patience in the meantime. Ballots are due back to the Ripon Consolidated Fire District by Aug. 8.
"We are still coming, the fire engine is still coming," said Burns. "We just don't have that advanced life support component."
Watch More from ABC10: The Ripon Fire District is in dire need of firefighters and staff
