Critical decision ahead for ECFR

It has been a year of change, adjustment and, at times, turmoil at East County Fire and Rescue. The path ahead for the rural fire district, while certainly not likely to be without its bumps, looks to at least be on a more solid foundation than what has been experienced in recent history.

In late 2014, tension among members of the ECFR Commission was palpable and finally reached its breaking point. Between October 2014 and January 2015, three longtime commissioners resigned their seats. In December 2014, shrinking revenue sources and the sunset of a grant led to the elimination of three firefighter positions. The most pivotal moment for the district may have come in January 2015, when three members of the board voted to terminate Chief Scott Koehler’s contract.