The Friday Flyer • July 3, 2015

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • JULY 3, 2015
Members of search and rescue team help in Nepal Pg. A8
City names interim fire chief to build new firedepartment Pg.A3
Last-minute tips to prepare for the 4th of July Pg.A11
City declares ‘State of Local Emergency’
BY SHARON RICE
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
Although the City this week declared a State of Local Emergency with re- gard to fire services, the fireworks show will go on as planned and medical/fire emergencies will continue to be covered through the 911 system.
It has been a confusing week for ev- eryone trying to figure out what was going to happen with fire services in Canyon Lake. The City’s contract with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire expired Tuesday, June 30, and personnel at the station could be seen removing the County signage that day.
Because so many last-minute deci- sions were being made as late as Tues- day, it was necessary for the City of Canyon Lake to declare a State of Lo- cal Emergency and ask that the County or State Offices of Emergency Services step in and provide interim fire services until the City’s fire department is up and fully functional – hopefully by the end of July.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Public Safety Committee, Station 60’s Captain Brent Carter gave his usual report about
the local stations’ responses to fire and medical calls. After the meeting he men- tioned in private conversation that he had beenassignedtoafirestationinSunCity. Brent has been the captain of Station 60 in Canyon Lake since August 2002.
day morning against imposing a tempo- rary extension.
For their part, the County Board of Supervisors also waited until Tuesday morning, finally voting 5-0 to offer Can- yon Lake a new one-year contract, based on the terms of the current contract, at a cost of $1.75 million. It was an offer the City Council said it could not afford to
accept. Meeting in closed session Tues- day night, Council voted to reject the contract and declare the State of Local Emergency.
Canyon Lake’s City Council and paid staff have been working for many years to resolve the dilemma created by the
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This wooden sign was removed from the rock wall in front of Fire Station 60 on Tuesday, as was signage on the front of the building. Fire Chief John Hawkins sent out a message Wednesday stating, "Last night at midnight, the fire protection services provided by the County to the City ceased. We vacated the fire station at 12:01 a.m."
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regular City Council meeting.
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PHOTOS BY DONNA KUPKE