South Placer Fire closing down select stations due to budget shortfalls

South Placer Fire Protection District (SPFD) will make several operational changes that will directly impact the communities it serves within Placer County. The changes, which will include select station closures and service reductions, are scheduled to go into effect this Saturday, according to a press release issued by the district Thursday morning. According to the announcement, the following closures and changes will take place Saturday: * Closure of Station 19, located at 7070 Auburn Folsom Road. Reallocation of personnel to other stations. * Closure of Station 15, located at 4650 East Roseville Parkway but relocating personnel and operation to the previously closed Station 16, located at 5300 Olive Ranch Road. * A specialized truck, used for search and rescue efforts, fire ventilation and salvage operations, will be removed from service until additional funding becomes available. South Placer Fire Protection District serves the communities of Granite Bay, Loomis, and the southern areas of Penryn and Newcastle. The district covers approximately 55 square miles, with a growing population of 42,000. The district is not funded by the county or the state and instead relies on funding from a small portion of property taxes and a static special tax paid by each property owner. Inflation, rising public safety concerns, wildfire risk and increased state-mandated safety standards have caused the South Placer Fire Protection District's operational costs to increase faster than revenues, according to the press release. During a recent benefits assessment campaign, the district advised the community that its revenue from these funding sources was insufficient to continue operating at the existing service level. The combination of these complex events has resulted in the need for the district to make changes to operate within its allocated budget, according to the press release. The recent unsuccessful property benefit assessment measure would have increased the district's funding, allowed additional fire protection and emergency response services within the district and helped offset its increasing operational costs, according to district officials. The district will continue to reevaluate all aspects of performance and make additional changes, as needed, within its current budget constraints. At this time, the South Placer Fire Protection District has not provided any additional comment. This is a developing story Gold Country Media will continue to update.