LAFCO
Adopted 2.22.23
Read the report at Local Agency Formation Commissions ↗
Hayfork
Fire Protection District
Municipal Service Review &
Sphere of Influence Update
Trinity
Local Agency Formation Commission
Adopted
February 22, 2023
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Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, Exhibit A
USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community
Fire Protection District
Map Date: 6/9/2020
Sources: Boundaries, Roads, Parcels: Trinity County GIS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1
AGENCY OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................... 4
FORMATION ........................................................................................................................................ 4
SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................ 5
BOUNDARY AND SPHERE ........................................................................................................................ 5
GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE .................................................................................................... 7
GOVERNING BODY ............................................................................................................................... 7
ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT & STAFFING .......................................................................................... 7
FACILITIES ........................................................................................................................................... 8
PUBLIC OUTREACH ............................................................................................................................... 8
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ..................................................................................................... 8
SERVICES & INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................................................. 10
SERVICE OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................ 10
SERVICE DEMAND .............................................................................................................................. 10
PERSONNEL ....................................................................................................................................... 10
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES .......................................................................................................... 11
ISO RATING ...................................................................................................................................... 12
CHALLENGES AND NEEDS ..................................................................................................................... 12
REGIONAL COLLABORATION ................................................................................................................. 13
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OPTIONS ...................................................................................................... 13
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS .................................................................................................................. 14
FINANCING .......................................................................................................................... 15
FISCAL OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. 15
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES ............................................................................................................... 15
BUDGET RESERVES ............................................................................................................................. 16
AUDIT INFORMATION .......................................................................................................................... 16
DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASES ................................................................................................................... 16
FINANCING CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ....................................................................................... 17
GROWTH AND POPULATION ................................................................................................ 18
EXISTING POPULATION AND PROJECTED GROWTH .................................................................................... 18
EXISTING AND PLANNED USES .............................................................................................................. 18
DISADVANTAGED UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES ................................................................................. 18
MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEW DETERMINATIONS .................................................................. 19
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE DETERMINATIONS ........................................................................... 20
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 22
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update ii
INTRODUCTION
This Municipal Service Review (MSR) and Sphere of Influence (SOI) Update was prepared as part
of a mandated review of the municipal services of all government entities in the county by the
Trinity Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo). This report focuses on the Hayfork Fire
Protection District (FPD). The purpose of this study is to assess existing and future public service
conditions and to evaluate organizational options for accommodating growth and ensuring critical
services are provided efficiently. This MSR presents a discussion, analysis, and recommendations
regarding services provided by the Hayfork FPD.
Trinity LAFCo
Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCos) are quasi-legislative, independent local agencies
that were established by State legislation in 1963 to oversee the logical and orderly formation and
development of local government agencies including cities and special districts. There is one LAFCo
for each county in California.
LAFCo is responsible for implementing the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government
Reorganization Act of 2000 (California Government Code Section 56000 et. seq.) in order to
promote orderly growth, prevent urban sprawl, preserve agricultural and open space lands, and
oversee efficient provision of municipal services.
LAFCo has the authority to establish and reorganize cities and special districts, change their
boundaries and authorized services, allow the extension of public services, perform municipal
service reviews, and establish spheres of influence. Some of LAFCo’s duties include regulating
boundary changes through annexations or detachments and forming, consolidating, or dissolving
local agencies.
Trinity LAFCo has a public Commission with seven regular Commissioners and three alternate
Commissioners. The Commission is composed of three members of the Trinity County Board of
Supervisors, two Special District Representatives, and two Public Members-At-Large. The
Commission also includes one alternate member for each represented category.
Fire-Related Districts in Trinity County
The majority of structural fire protection services in Trinity County are provided by special districts.
A special district is a local governmental agency that delivers public services to a specific area.
They are most often established by residents to supply local services in areas not being served by
another service provider.
Special districts provide critical services such as fire protection and emergency response. They are
typically governed by a board of directors and have defined boundaries in which they provide
services and facilities. Special districts must have a statutory authority in order to be established.
This authority can take the form of a generic statute which applies to all special districts of that
type or may be formed by a special act tailored to the unique needs of a specific area.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 1
Fire Protection Districts (FPDs) are independent special districts governed under Fire Protection
District law (Health and Safety Code § 13000-14960). An FPD can be authorized to provide several
services including:
a) Fire protection services.
b) Rescue services.
c) Emergency medical services.
d) Hazardous material emergency response services.
e) Ambulance services.
f) Any other services relating to the protection of lives and property.
Municipal Service Review Determinations
Government Code § 56430 requires LAFCo to conduct a review of municipal services provided in
the county by region, sub-region or other designated geographic area, as appropriate, for the
service or services to be reviewed, and prepare a written statement of determinations with
respect to each of the following topics:
1. Growth and population projections for the affected area
2. The location and characteristics of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within
or contiguous to the sphere of influence
3. Present and planned capacity of public facilities, adequacy of public services, and
infrastructure needs or deficiencies (including needs or deficiencies related to sewers,
municipal and industrial water, and structural fire protection in any disadvantaged,
unincorporated communities within or contiguous to the sphere of influence)
4. Financial ability of agencies to provide services
5. Status of, and opportunities for, shared facilities
6. Accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure and
operational efficiencies
7. Any other matter affecting or related to effective or efficient service delivery, as required
by Commission policy
State Guidelines and Commission policies encourage stakeholder cooperation in the municipal
service review process. It also provides a basis to evaluate, and make changes to Spheres of
Influence, if appropriate.
Sphere of Influence Determinations
A Sphere of Influence (SOI) is a LAFCo-approved plan that designates an agency’s probable physical
boundary and service area. Spheres are planning tools used to provide guidance for individual
boundary change proposals and are intended to encourage efficient provision of organized
community services, discourage urban sprawl and premature conversion of agricultural and open
space lands, and prevent overlapping jurisdictions and duplication of services.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 2
LAFCo is required to establish SOIs for all local agencies and enact policies to promote the logical
and orderly development of areas within the SOIs. Furthermore, LAFCo must update those SOIs
every five years. For a SOI update, LAFCo is required to conduct an MSR and adopt related
determinations. It must also make the following SOI determinations:
1. The present and planned land uses in the area, including agricultural and open-space lands
2. The present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area
3. The present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the agency
provides or is authorized to provide
4. The existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the
Commission determines that they are relevant to the agency
5. The present and probable need for public facilities and services related to sewers,
municipal or industrial water, or structural fire protection of any disadvantaged
unincorporated communities within the existing sphere of influence
Review Methods
The following information was considered in the development of this service review:
Agency-specific data: responses to LAFCo Requests for Information
o
Demographic data: U.S. Census Bureau; Department of Finance
o
Finances: budgets and audits
o
Personal Communications with District staff and Board
o
Other Reports: Trinity County Community Wildfire Prevention Plan Update 2020
o
Information gathered was analyzed and applied to make the required determinations. All
information gathered for this report is filed by LAFCo for future reference.
California Environmental Quality Act
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is contained in Public Resources Code §21000 et
seq. Public agencies are required to evaluate the potential environmental effects of their actions.
MSRs are statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to §15262 (feasibility or planning studies) and
categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15306 (information collection). CEQA
requirements are applicable to SOI Updates. The CEQA lead agency for SOI Updates is most often
LAFCo, unless an agency has initiated an SOI expansion or update.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 3
AGENCY OVERVIEW
Table 1: Hayfork FPD District Summary
Formation
Agency Name Hayfork Fire Protection District
Formation Date January 3, 1949
Fire Protection District Law (Health and Safety Code §13000 et
Principal Act
seq.)
Contact
Main Contact Leroy Warshawer, Fire Chief
Alternate Contact Sue Loeffler, Board President
E-mail l.warshawer@hayforkfire.org
District Mailing Address PO Box 668, Hayfork, CA 96041
Physical Address 7230 State Highway 3, Hayfork, CA 96041
Phone/ Fax (530) 628-5126
Website Hayforkfireprotectiondistrict.org
Governance
Governing Body Five Member Board of Directors
Board Meetings 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:00pm
Fire Chief Warshawer; 17 active-duty volunteers and 4 auxiliary
Staffing
members
Services
Services Provided All risk fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services
Unincorporated community of Hayfork and adjacent rural
Areas Served residential areas along Highway 3 including Peanut and portions of
13 Dips
Formation
Hayfork Fire Protection District was formed by the Trinity County Board of Supervisors on January
17, 1949, pursuant to Health and Safety Code §14001 and subsequently reorganized under the
Fire Protection District Law of 1961 and 19871. The original District boundary encompassed
approximately 6 square miles consisting of the core community area of Hayfork. In 1962, the
Hayfork FPD annexed the rural residential area accessed by Brady Road including Laurel Drive and
Oliva Drive. LAFCo established the District Sphere of Influence (SOI) in 1985 (LAFCo Resolution 85-
12) which included surrounding rural residential, timber and agricultural land uses in the greater
1
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 4
Hayfork Valley. In 2006, LAFCo approved a sphere of influence amendment and annexation of
25,200 acres located in the Hayfork Valley to enable the District to maintain and improve fire and
rescue service to areas served (LAFCo Resolution No. 06-02; Certificate of Completion dated June
29, 2006). A condition of annexation approval was voter approval of a special tax2, which was
passed at the June 6, 2006 election (Measure F) by 70.77% of voters voting on the tax. The special
tax imposed an annual $100.00 per parcel charge that is collected on property tax bills.
Services
Hayfork FPD is an independent, single purpose special district authorized to provide fire
protection, rescue, and emergency medical services and any other services relating to the
protection of lives and property pursuant to the Fire Protection District Law of 1987 (Division 12,
Part 2.7 of the California Health and Safety Code, commencing with §13800), which supersedes
prior fire protection district laws. While some fire-related districts in Trinity County are authorized
to provide ambulance transport services, this service is not currently provided by Hayfork FPD.
Boundary and Sphere
According to the District, the Hayfork FPD boundary comprises approximately 84 square miles and
encompasses the unincorporated community of Hayfork and surrounding rural residential and
resource lands along Highway 3 (Figure 1). It is important to note that based on GIS boundary
mapping the District includes 29,632 acres or 46 square miles. The District includes predominantly
private lands within the greater Hayfork Valley and numerous creeks, including Hayfork and Salt
Creeks, which flow through the town center. State Highway 3 comes into the town from the east
and then traverses the District in a north-south direction. It is the primary transportation route in
the area. Currently, the District’s SOI is coterminous with its boundary and no changes are
proposed.
2 Special Taxes require 2/3rds voter approval
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 5
Figure 1: Hayfork FPD Boundary
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 6
GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
Governing Body
Hayfork FPD is governed by a five-member Board of Directors elected at-large to serve staggered
four-year terms (Table 2). In order to be elected to the Board, candidates must be registered
voters residing within the District boundaries. If there are insufficient candidates for election, or if
the number of filed candidates is equal to the number of vacancies, then Board members may be
appointed in lieu of election. The Board of Directors appoints officers, including a President (Chair),
Vice-President, and Treasurer. There are no term limits for serving as an officer of the Board. Board
members do not receive a stipend for attending meetings.
Board meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Old Fire Hall, 7230 State
Highway 3 in Hayfork. Fire Protection District Law notes that fire district boards must meet at least
once every three months (H&S Code §13855). In accordance with the Brown Act, all meetings of
the District Board are open to the public and are publicly posted a minimum of 72 hours prior to
regular meetings and a minimum of 24 hours prior to special meetings at the Fire Station located
at 195 Highway 3 in Hayfork and in the Trinity Journal. Agendas are also posted on the District’s
website.
Table 2: Hayfork FPD Board of Directors
Board Member Title Term Expiration
Sue Loeffler President 12/2024
Robert “Tad” Drain Vice President 12/2024
Cameron Adams Director 12/2024
Kristy Swift Director 01/2025
Vacant Director 01/2025
The District has difficulty attracting and retaining Board members due to the limited population in
the area and declining economic status of the region. Currently there is one vacant seat on the
Board with limited interest from the public. The District is encouraged to consider alternative
recruitment methods and governance policies that may help attract Board members. This could
include offering a small honorarium for attendance at meetings, advertising on social media,
posting notices at grocery stores frequented by community members, and other alternatives as
the Board sees fit.
Administration, Management & Staffing
Hayfork FPD has a Board Clerk that oversees financial and administrative duties for the district. All
agency decisions are overseen by the Board of Directors upon consideration of public input and
discussion. The Fire Chief provides monthly reports to the Board regarding fire department
activities, including calls during the prior month, training reports, and other department-related
activities. All volunteers and Fire Chief receive a membership in CSFA, additional life insurance,
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 7
and a membership for Trinity Life Support air ambulance. Volunteers receive a $5 per call stipend
for responding to calls and attending trainings, and a $25 stipend is provided for duty officer shifts.
Facilities
The District still uses the Old Fire Hall at 7230 Highway 3 that currently serves as the office location
for the District. The Hayfork VFD, through the FPD, operates from one fire station located at 195
Hyampom Road in the community of Hayfork.
Public Outreach
In addition to public meetings, the District works to reach constituents through community
outreach efforts. The Hayfork VFD is involved in several community events including the annual
Trinity County Fair and all high school football games. This effort to be an active part of the
community promotes the District’s mission to create a safer community and provides additional
opportunities for recruitment of new volunteers. In addition, the Hayfork Fire has provided CPR
and first aid classes to the public, visits from K thru third grade students, and program mentorship
for Hayfork High seniors.
The Hayfork VFD manages a website that offers tips, wildland fire safety, burn permit information
and child safety seat information (hayforkfire.org). The Fire District website
(www.hayforkfireprotectiondistrict.org) links to the volunteer site and provides fiscal and meeting
information. There is a Facebook page (facebook.com/HayforkVolunteerFireDepartment) which
provides general information, posts, and news for the community.
Transparency and Accountability
Hayfork FPD is developing and updating Policies and Procedures for both the District and
Department, as well as joint policies. The policies address administrative, financial, personnel,
membership, recruitment, travel, compensation, training, and general operating policies and
procedures for the District. It’s an ongoing process and the District is visiting a few each year to
review and update. The District also has a Strategic Plan.
SB 929 (McGuire) was signed into law on September 14, 2018, requiring all independent special
districts to maintain a website by January 1, 2020. Only hardship-based findings, identified in a
board resolution approved at a regular meeting, would allow a district to be exempt from
establishing or maintaining a website. Hayfork FPD began maintaining a website in 2015. The
website includes contact and board information, meeting information including agendas and
minutes, an enterprise system catalog for vendor and product information, and links to the State
Controller’s Financial Transaction Reports3 and Compensations Reports4. It is recommended that
the District begin posting copies of adopted budgets and audits to the website.
3 https://districts.bythenumbers.sco.ca.gov/#!/year/default
4 https://publicpay.ca.gov/Reports/SpecialDistricts/SpecialDistricts.aspx
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 8
The Political Reform Act requires all state and local government agencies to adopt and promulgate
a Conflict of Interest Code pursuant to Government Code §81000 et seq. The Political Reform Act
also requires persons who hold office to disclose their investments, interests in real property, and
incomes by filing a Statement of Economic Interests (Fair Political Practices Commission Form 700)
each year pursuant to Government Code §87203. Hayfork FPD has a Conflict of Interest Code and
otherwise complies with the Political Reform Act requirements.
According to AB 1234, if a local agency provides compensation or reimbursement of expenses to
local government officials, then all local officials are required to receive two hours of training on
public service ethics laws and principles at least once every two years and establish a written policy
on reimbursements pursuant to Government Code §53235. In addition, AB 1661 went into effect
in 2016 and addresses local government sexual harassment prevention training and education.
Hayfork FPD provides both ethics training and sexual harassment training to all Board members.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 9
SERVICES & INFRASTRUCTURE
Service Overview
Fire protection services for the District are provided by the Hayfork Volunteer Fire Department, a
501(c)3 nonprofit. The Hayfork VFD is an active member of the fire service community in Trinity
County. The department provides a full range of fire protection services including emergency
medical services, auto extrication, hazardous materials, and general public assistance. Hayfork
VFD covers the entire District with all-risk protection. All-risk means that within the service area
they respond to all fires, medical calls, car accidents, and public assists.
At the present time the District does not have any formal mutual or automatic aid agreements
with any of the local departments. The District has cooperative agreements with the U.S. Forest
Service Shasta-Trinity National Forest, CAL FIRE Shasta Trinity Unit, and Cal-OES. Currently Hayfork
does not have written mutual aid agreements with Douglas City FPD and Hyampom CSD but
instead provides assistance on a case-by-case basis. The District previously had a mutual aid
agreement with the Post Mountain Public Utility District (PUD) and will respond to the Post
Mountain and Wildwood areas if they have adequate coverage in district.
Service Demand
The Hayfork VFD responds to an average of 20-30 calls per month or 285 calls per year, with the
majority of calls being medical-related (Table 3). Other calls such as vehicle accidents may also
involve the delivery of emergency medical services. The department maintains an emergency
response log and training records.
Table 3: Hayfork VFD Calls for Service
Response 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Average %
Structure Fires 16 3 6 4 5 7 2%
Vegetation Fires 4 8 17 5 9 9 3%
Other Fires 27 23 29 25 32 27 10%
Medical 196 197 233 148 157 186 65%
Vehicle Accident 39 25 22 26 15 25 9%
Hazard Condition 0 1 1 0 1 1 0%
Other Services 45 31 27 19 27 30 10%
Total Responses 327 288 335 227 246 285 100%
Personnel
Hayfork VFD has 17 active-duty volunteer personnel of which all are certified wildland firefighters,
five are EMR first responders, six certified EMTs, four rope rescuers, and two are in training for
fire investigation and prevention. The Department also has 4 auxiliary support volunteers that
handle non-emergency response activities. Volunteer firefighters meet or exceed the National Fire
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 10
Protection Association (NFPA) requirements and continuously work toward attaining California
Firefighter 1 certification. They use the USDA Forest Service 310-1 for wildland fire qualification
and have a certified NIFC wildland fire instructor who is a former Type 1 operations section chief.
They have been working to rebuild the department due to a major turn over in volunteers, and
other barriers including the increase from $50.00 to $100.00 in State Fire Marshals certificate fees
per person.
Every firefighter must pass a comprehensive training program (basic firefighter academy) and pass
a physical and background check. The program consists of 52 hours of classroom and 54 hours of
drill. The Department trains with in-house instructors or outside instructors every Thursday
evening. During the winter months CAL FIRE provides an instructor. The 4 to 6 classes always
include hazardous materials first responder operations (FRO) refresher and wildland fire with the
remaining decided by the Fire Chiefs Association. The Department follows an instructor guide
developed by the California State Firefighters Association (CSFA) and adopted by the Fire Chiefs
Association.
Training focuses on knowledge and skills of the many tasks a firefighter must be proficient in to
effectively do their job including but not limited to structural, wildland, and vehicle fire tactics and
safety, hose and nozzle evolutions, structural fire ventilation, forcible entry, search and rescue,
low and high angle technical and rope rescue, vehicle extrication and rescue, and traffic control
techniques and safety. Medical training involves CPR certification, basic first aid and Emergency
Medical Responder (EMR) certification, with some members going on to Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT) training and certification. Members are also trained in firefighter safety and
emergency scene assessment identifying potential hazards for the responder. All apparatus drivers
must successfully compete Driver Operator 1A to drive the engines and water tenders with a GRV
of 26,001 pounds or more.
The District actively recruits for additional volunteers and reports that lack of volunteers has been
an ongoing challenge. Having enough volunteers to adequately respond to large and complex
incidents or when multiple incidents occur simultaneously can be a challenge. Ensuring adequate
response coverage within district can limit the District’s ability to respond to mutual aid requests
outside of district. The District reports a strong working relationship with CAL FIRE Hayfork Station,
which provides mutual response inside and outside the Hayfork boundaries when available during
the fire season. The CAL FIRE Hayfork Station is not staffed during the non-fire season. The District
is considering a New Recruit Requirements Policy and updating its Fire Department Membership
Policy.
Infrastructure and Facilities
The Hayfork VFD, through the FPD, operates from one fire station located at 195 Hyampom Road
in the community of Hayfork. With the major portion being outside hydrant coverage, the District
designed and purchased a tactical water tender, funded via a FEMA grant in 2016. Other apparatus
used by the District includes a 2006 Type 1 engine used for medicals, a 2013 Type 1 with four-
wheel drive, a Type 6 with four-wheel drive, a rescue vehicle, and a command vehicle (Table 4).
The District purchased E-3112 in 2013 via a lease purchase plan. The apparatus was paid off in
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 11
January 2021 two years ahead of schedule. The replacement schedule is for the Ford water tender,
then the type 6, then the rescue vehicle with no set timetable.
Table 4: Hayfork FPD Apparatus
Pump
Radio Call Tank Size
Apparatus Make/Type Purchase Description Capacity
Number (gal)
(gpm)
2007 Rosenbauer
E-3111 FEMA Grant 750 1,250
Type 1 Engine (6 seats)
2013 International/ Lease purchase
E-3112 Rosenbauer 4x4 Urban agreement with Fire 750 1,001
Interface Type 1 Engine Trucks West
1992 Chevrolet 3500
E-3161 District Funds 200 120
4x4 Type 6 Engine
1989 Ford I-9000
WT-3142 District Funds 4,000 350
Water Tender (reserve)
2017 Kenworth Type 1
WT-3141 FEMA Grant 3,500 1,250
Tactical Water Tender
2009 Ford F-350 4x4
R-3151 crew cab for EMS FEMA Grant n/a n/a
Response
2011 Ford F-250 4x4
C-3101 District Funds n/a n/a
Command Vehicle
ISO Rating
There are several benchmarks by which the level of fire service provided by an agency may be
measured, and the Insurance Services Office Public Protection Classification, or ISO PPC, is one
such measure. The ISO is a rating commonly used by insurance companies to determine fire
insurance rates, with 1 being the best rating which indicates the highest level of fire protection
and 10 being the lowest. Based on an ISO audit in 2011, Hayfork FPD has a 4 rating within the
entire District boundary5. An ISO update is expected to be completed in 2023.
Challenges and Needs
Like many rural departments, Hayfork FPD is challenged with aging equipment and low volunteer
recruitment. The District still uses the Old Fire Hall at 7230 Highway 3 that currently serves as the
office location for the District. The District’s priority need is to complete the Main Station facility
at 195 Hyampom Road. The District was unable to fund Phase 2 of the project including the
construction of two wings that were part of the original plans for the station. Those wings would
provide crew quarters, administrative offices, board meeting room, and training and classroom
5 Hayfork FPD, Board of Directors, Personal Communication.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 12
space along with a commercial kitchen. The expanded facility could provide an alternate dispatch
center and local emergency command center and clean air facility for the community during major
disasters. With this construction, the District could abandon the 7230 Highway 3 site totally. The
Highway 3 site does not meet ADA, earthquake safety and has been condemned by the Trinity
County Building Department and the California State Fire Marshal, nor does the District own the
ground the station sits upon.
Regional Collaboration
Hayfork FPD actively participates with the Trinity County Fire Chiefs Association. The District also
coordinates as needed with the Watershed Research and Training Center out of Hayfork with a
contract to provide apparatus and personnel for their projects.
Hayfork VFD has contract mutual aid agreements with the US Forest Service, Shasta-Trinity
National Forest, CAL FIRE, Shasta Trinity Ranger Unit, and Cal OES. The VFD jointly responds to
emergency calls when they have enough available crew members. Much of the District is located
within the State Responsibility Area (SRA) and the department works closely with CAL FIRE to
respond to wildfire incidents during the fire season. The District’s water tender operators also
provide water to CAL FIRE and the Forest Service when needed. A small portion of the District is
within a Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) and much of the surrounding area is designated FRA.
CAL FIRE is responsible for the suppression of wildland fires within an SRA. CAL FIRE stations are
staffed during declared fire season and engines may respond to calls other than wildland fires if
they are available and the call will not affect their core responsibilities. Although the State is
responsible for wildland fire suppression within the SRA, CAL FIRE relies on local fire departments
to respond to such incidents and provide initial attack to ensure that the fires are suppressed at
the earliest possible stage. District volunteers participate as needed on CAL FIRE strike teams and
also loan equipment to CAL FIRE as needed. During the winter months, CAL FIRE provides training
to the District on hazardous materials, wildland fire, and other topics.
Governance Structure Options
All fire protection and EMS providers in the region have identified significant challenges to
providing adequate service levels, thus the impetus to analyzing alternate services structures at a
regional level. Challenges to service include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Serving outside of boundaries without revenue
• Lack of sufficient funding with increased costs
• Meeting expanding mandatory requirements and standards
• Duplication of efforts and expenses related to administration, training, and operations
• Reliance almost entirely on volunteers with declining volunteerism
• Board vacancies and succession
• Larger and more frequent wildfires
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 13
Local fire agencies provide and receive mutual aid when needed, providing sufficient resources to
each incident, regardless of whose jurisdiction it is in. In the past, Hayfork FPD had a mutual aid
agreement with Post Mountain Public Utility District (PUD), which provides fire protection and
limited road maintenance services to the Post Mountain area. Post Mountain PUD has limited
revenue and staffing capacity and struggles to maintain adequate service levels. There is
opportunity to consolidate services into a regional district and expand Hayfork FPD’s special tax as
a reliable source of revenue for the Post Mountain and possibly Wildwood areas. A reorganization
would serve to formalize services, training and response into a regional district model, with an
improved economy of scale and associated benefits. To help address mutual challenges, it is
recommended that Hayfork FPD and Post Mountain PUD work collaboratively to identify
opportunities that would benefit both organizations and the community. LAFCo staff is available
to assist with these discussions and future planning.
Other Service Providers
Trinity County provides general governmental services including social services, emergency
services, planning, county roads, parks, and other services to areas within the County. Law
Enforcement is provided by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. The California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for the condition of Highway 3 that provides access
through Hayfork.
Trinity Life Support Community Services District is the regional ambulance provider. TLS operates
out of Hayfork and Weaverville and is staffed by EMT-1 and Paramedic level emergency personnel.
Community water and wastewater services in the Hayfork Valley area are provided by Trinity
County Waterworks District #1. The water system has 580 service connections and draws its water
from Ewing reservoir northeast of town. Water service in the area is also provided by individual
wells. Community wastewater services were expanded in 2003 when a 14 million gallon
reclamation pond and pump station were constructed as an extension of the Hayfork Sewage
Treatment Plant. The community also relies upon individual septic tanks for sewage disposal.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 14
FINANCING
Fiscal Overview
The Hayfork FPD Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of
internal accounting control. The District Board is responsible for adopting an annual budget. In
addition, monthly financial reports/warrants are presented to the Board for review and approval.
The basic financial statements of the District are prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles (GAAP). The District approves its annual budget including a preliminary
budget by June 30 of each year and a final budget by October 1 of each year in accordance with
Health and Safety Code (HSC) Sections 13890–13906. It is required that a copy of the final budget
be forwarded to the County Auditor-Controller (HSC 13895).
Revenue and Expenditures
The District is primarily funded through property taxes and a voter-approved special tax,
established in 2006 as part of the District’s boundary expansion/annexation process. Within the
original District boundary in the community of Hayfork, the District receives approximately 2
percent of the one percent assessed valuation of each parcel. Throughout the entire District, the
special tax is levied at a rate of $100 per developed parcel with no maximum per owner and $100
per undeveloped parcel with a maximum of four per owner. The special tax is collected on
property tax bills. It is the responsibility of the District to annually update its direct charge list and
submit to the Auditor-Controller’s Office by August 10 for placement of charges on property tax
bills. This includes receiving the updated tax roll from the Assessor’s Office to ensure that any new
parcels created through subdivision or lot line adjustment is captured on the direct charge list.
The District’s expenses include workers compensation and salaries, costs associated with
providing fire and emergency services (equipment, supplies, training, etc.), and other related
costs. The District reports that increasing training requirements, certification fees, out of county
travel for training, and insurance are significant cost burdens for the District. Budgets are
augmented at the end of the year from reserve fund savings for over-runs such as training and
personal protective gear. The District is able to fund larger equipment and apparatus purchases
once sufficient reserves are in place.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 15
Table 5: Historical Financial Data (FY 2018-19 Through 2020-21)6
Revenues 2019 2020 2021
Property Tax 49,464 56,090 59,675
Parcel Tax 1 33,100 1 32,550 131,750
Prior-Year Taxes and Assessments 15,351 12,681 12,003
Homeowners Property Tax Relief 558 548 544
Other Revenues 41,402 22,534 243,225
Other Taxes and Assessments - 745 1,449
Total Federal Intergovernmental - - -
Total State Intergovernmental - - 30
Investment Earnings 5,620 3,405 1,220
Total Revenues $245,495 $228,553 $449,896
Salaries and Wages 53,125 55,881 82,687
Services and Supplies 1 52,346 1 07,593 125,150
Principal Payments on Long-Term Debt 76,690 25,768 6,000
Interest Payments on Long-Term Debt 27,438 38,813 22,234
Other Expenditures 2,873 2,848 2,824
Total Expenditures $312,472 $230,903 $238,895
Excess/(Deficiency) ($66,977) ($2,350) $211,001
Budget Reserves
The District has established five reserve accounts including: Building, East Side Station, Apparatus
and Equipment Replacement, Fire Fighter Reimbursement, and Mutual Aid. The District annually
budgets for these reserves. In the 20/21 budget review, the District Board transferred funds from
east side station to the firefighter reimbursement.
Audit Information
The District conducts annual audits. Audit results are often not available for as much as six months
after the end of the fiscal year. As of this writing, the District is in the process of contracting with
D.R. Watts Accountancy to complete the FY 21-22 and FY 22-23 Audit.
Debt and Capital Leases
The District received a USDA Rural Assistance loan for construction of the fire station at 195
Hyampom Road. The District makes two annual payments totaling $30,575.00 which includes a
6 California State Controller’s Office
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 16
10% reserve in November and May of each year. As of 5/1/2021, the loan balance is $533,000.00.
The loan is scheduled to be paid off in May of 2051.
Financing Constraints and Opportunities
The District would like to fund Phase 2 of the fire station project and the Board has formed a
Modular Committee to explore grants and other funding to purchase a modular building. The
District has also been successful receiving FEMA funding to purchase new EMS equipment and
provide FF 1 training to the department. Additional requests for funding have been submitted to
the County, Redding Rancheria, and the Humboldt Area Foundation. In 2022, the District
submitted CAL FIRE 50/50 and FEMA funding applications for additional structural personal
protective equipment and new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.
The District reports that the 2006 Measure F special tax at $100 per parcel per year has likely
maxed the community at what they were willing to pay. The District reports they have not been
looking at fee increases due to the shortage of volunteers.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 17
GROWTH AND POPULATION
Existing Population and Projected Growth
Trinity County is composed of several small communities, with no incorporated cities. The majority
of the county’s population is concentrated in and around the communities of Weaverville, Hayfork,
and Lewiston. These three communities are Census Designated Places (CDPs).
Hayfork lost population between the 1990 and 2000 census, largely as a result of a mill closure.
With the growth of the cannabis industry, total population in Trinity County was 13,786 in 2010
and 16,112 in 2020. This suggests an annual growth rate of approximately 1.68%. However, the
Trinity County Housing Element reports limited to no growth over the last 10 years and anticipates
a slow decline in population over the next decade7.
Hayfork has an estimated population of 2,324 based on the 2020 Decennial Census8. However,
the District boundary is larger than the CDP boundary which means the total District population is
likely larger. Based on the low-density development in the area and population estimates for
census blocks within the District boundary, there is an estimated 2,500 people in the District. The
overall population is not expected to grow substantially over the next five to ten years and may
actually decline.
Existing and Planned Uses
Land uses in the Hayfork FPD are subject to the Trinity County General Plan (1988) and Zoning
Regulations (Trinity County Code Title 17). The Hayfork area is subject to the Hayfork Community
Plan (1996), which serves to supplement the Trinity County General Plan. Land use in the area
served by the District is largely agricultural, resource, and rural residential. The Trinity County
Waterworks District #1 is the water and sewer system provider for the community of Hayfork.
Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities
LAFCo is required to evaluate water service, sewer service, and structural fire protection within
disadvantaged unincorporated communities as part of this service review, including the location
and characteristics of any such communities. A disadvantaged unincorporated community (DUC)
is defined as any area with 12 or more registered voters where the annual median household
income is less than 80% of the statewide annual MHI.
According to the 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate the Hayfork CDP MHI is
$34,0569, which is 45% of the state MHI of $75,235 and qualifies the community as a DUC. Other
surrounding disadvantaged communities include the Post Mountain and Wildwood areas.
7 Trinity County, 2019-2024 Housing Element Update, Chapter Two: Housing Needs. April 1, 2020.
8 US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Table P2.
9 US Census Bureau, 2019 American Community Survey 5-year Estimate, Table S1903.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 18
MUNICIPAL SERVICE REVIEW DETERMINATIONS
This section addresses the requirements of the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government
Reorganization Act of 2000 (California Government Code Section 56430). As part of the municipal
service review process, LAFCo makes the following written determinations.
1) Growth and population projections
Hayfork FPD provides fire protection and rescue services to the community of Hayfork and
surrounding areas with an estimated population of approximately 2,500. The overall population is
not expected to grow substantially over the next five to ten years and may actually decline based
on growth projections.
2) The location and characteristics of any disadvantaged unincorporated communities within or
contiguous to the Sphere of Influence
Hayfork is a Census Designated Place with a reported median household income of $34,056, which
is 45% of the statewide MHI and classifying the community as disadvantaged. Other surrounding
disadvantaged communities include the Post Mountain and Wildwood areas.
3) Present and planned capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services, including
infrastructure needs or deficiencies
The District’s engines, water tenders, and other vehicles are all in operable condition. Like many
rural departments, Hayford FPD relies on grants and donations to replace aging apparatus and
equipment. The District recently designed and purchased a tactical water tender, funded by a
FEMA grant in 2016. The Hayfork fire station is adequate to support the existing needs, but not
the future levels of service for the District. The FPD priority is to find funding to finish Phase 2 of
the Main Station’s construction.
4) Financial ability of agencies to provide services
Hayfork FPD’s primary revenue sources include property taxes and a voter-approved special tax.
In addition, they occasionally receive grant funding. The District has adequate reserves which are
used to augment the districts expenditures at year-end as well as fund larger equipment and
apparatus purchases once sufficient reserves are in place. The District is in need of funding for
Phase 2 of their Main Station construction.
5) Status of, and opportunities for, shared facilities
The department has cooperative agreements with the US Forest Service Shasta-Trinity National
Forest, CAL FIRE Shasta Trinity Unit, and Cal OES . In addition, the Hayfork VFD is available for
mutual aid fire response to other departments within Trinity County if it does not jeopardize the
protection of Hayfork. Hayfork VFD is a member of the Trinity County Fire Chiefs Association. The
District also coordinates as needed with the Watershed Research and Training Center out of
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 19
Hayfork with a contract to provide apparatus and personnel for their watershed and fuels
reduction projects.
6) Accountability for community service needs, including governmental structure and
operational efficiencies
Hayfork FPD is governed by the five-member Board of Directors. The Board meets regularly, and
meetings comply with the provisions of the Brown Act. The FPD demonstrated accountability and
transparency by disclosing financial and service-related information in response to LAFCo
requests. Hayfork FPD has a website and keeps it updated with meeting and budget information.
7) Any other matter related to effective or efficient service delivery, as required by commission
policy
It is recommended that Hayfork FPD’s sphere of influence remain coterminous with the District’s
boundary. However, Hayfork FPD regularly responds out of district to the Post Mountain and
Wildwood areas. Post Mountain PUD has limited revenue and staffing capacity and otherwise
struggles to maintain adequate service levels. There is opportunity to consolidate services into a
regional district and expand Hayfork FPD’s special tax as a reliable source of revenue to serve the
Post Mountain and Wildwood areas. To help address mutual challenges, it is recommended that
Hayfork FPD and Post Mountain PUD work collaboratively to identify opportunities that would
benefit both organizations and the greater community. Should reorganization be pursued, a
sphere of influence amendment would be necessary.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 20
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE DETERMINATIONS
Trinity LAFCo makes the following written determinations:
1) Present and planned land uses in the area, including agricultural and open-space lands.
The Hayfork area is subject to the Hayfork Community Plan (1996), which serves to supplement
the Trinity County General Plan. Land use in the area served by the District is largely agricultural,
resource, and rural residential. The Trinity County Waterworks District #1 is the water and sewer
system provider for the community of Hayfork.
2) Present and probable need for public facilities and services in the area.
Hayfork FPD is a regional partner in the overall fire suppression and prevention effort in Trinity
County. The department provides a full range of fire protection services, including emergency
medical services, auto extrication, hazardous materials, and general public assistance. The
department also has cooperative agreements with the US Forest Service Shasta-Trinity National
Forest, CAL FIRE Shasta Trinity Unit, and Cal OES.
3) Present capacity of public facilities and adequacy of public services that the agency provides
or is authorized to provide.
The current capacity of fire protection services provided by the District appear to be adequate to
serve current and future demand. However, with the lack of funding for Phase 2 of the Main
Station Facility project, the District is unable to expand its facilities to provide crew quarters,
administrative offices, board meeting room, and training and classroom space along with a
commercial kitchen. An expanded facility could provide an alternate dispatch center and local
emergency command center and clean air facility for the community during major disasters.
4) Existence of any social or economic communities of interest in the area if the commission
determines that they are relevant to the agency.
Hayfork FPD supports the mutual social and economic interests of the Hayfork community by
sustaining community-based fire protection services and establishing local governance for such
services. Hayfork FPD regularly responds out of district to the Post Mountain and Wildwood areas.
5) For an update of a sphere of influence of a city or special district that provides public facilities
or services related to sewers, municipal and industrial water, or structural fire protection, the
present and probable need for those public facilities and services of any disadvantaged
unincorporated communities within the existing sphere.
Hayfork is a Census Designated Place with a reported median household income of $34,056, which
is 45% of the statewide MHI and classifying the community as disadvantaged. Other surrounding
disadvantaged communities include the Post Mountain and Wildwood areas.
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 21
REFERENCES
California Strategic Fire Plan. 2010. State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. URL:
http://resources.ca.gov/climate_adaptation/statewide_adaptation/climate_change_and_wildfir
e.html
Scores and PPC Ratings. ISO Mitigation Online. URL: http://www.isomitigation.com/
Trinity County Community Wildfire Prevention Plan Update 2015, Report to the Trinity County
Fire Safe Council from the Trinity County Resource Conservation District and the Watershed
Research and Training Center
US Census Bureau. American Fact Finder, Trinity County, California. URL: http://
https://factfinder.census.gov
Hayfork FPD MSR/SOI Update 22