SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The high prices for gasoline and diesel is taking a toll on Bay Area fire and police departments as well as municipal agencies responsible for buses and service vehicles.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
The Sonoma County Fire District covers 225 square miles of territory. Fire Chief Mark Heine said they have a fixed budget and high fuel prices are setting off alarm bells.
"Those costs are born on us," Heine told KCBS Radio. "We can't stop doing what we need to do and stop responding to calls for service. So, our costs particularly for fuel have escalated significantly and that puts a big impact on us financially."
It takes a lot of diesel to keep a fire truck running and district fuel costs are up 50% year to year.
"You start to see how exorbitant the prices have become in a short period of time, where budgets and the revenue in those budgets it's not rising to match that," he explained.
The city of Santa Rosa has dozens of police, fire, public works and transit buses that are bleeding fuel prices too. Joe Schiavone, acting Director of Transportation and Public Works said they're trying to conserve.
"It's important outside the city to continue to look towards new technology and the opportunities to incorporate zero-emission vehicles," Schiavone said.
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
