County Funds Sought for Fire Programs

Ventura County fire officials are asking county supervisors to allocate more than $500,000 to relocate the Fire Department communications center and establish a search-and-rescue program for major disasters.

The Fire Department is asking the Board of Supervisors to release $415,000 in Proposition 172 sales tax money to move its dispatch operations at the Camarillo Airport into a larger facility on the site.

The department also wants $150,000 in sales tax money to develop a search-and-rescue program specifically designed to deal with large disasters, such as earthquakes and floods.

The money would be used to purchase equipment and train firefighters to move heavy debris and remove trapped people from collapsed buildings.

Although the county Sheriff’s Department already has a special search-and-rescue team, officials said it is important that firefighters have the same training and capability.