Corona de Tucson Fire Chief Simon Davis says, fire districts have been left out of the federal funding conversation during this pandemic. For instance, he said fire districts were left out of the C.A.R.E.S. Act.
“Unfortunately for whatever reason by districts and kind of left off that equation. And so, while the state and these other entities got the funding, fire districts didn't receive any. While at the same time, we respond and we actually protect close to one half million folks in Arizona. So we've got the costs associated with that,” said Davis. Needing PPE, responding to fires, COVID health emergencies and staffing shortages because of COVID, are all situations Davis said that are compounded by the pandemic.
“I wouldn't say it's perfect storm, but it's pretty close to it. We had the Big Horn fire, we actually had a crew up there on that.