This is how bad things have gotten in Julian since San Diego County took control of the region’s last volunteer fire department eight months ago.
When first responders went out on a call, someone would paint over the marking that reserved the new county fire chief’s parking spot at the fire station, which used to be manned by the local volunteers who resided in the popular tourist destination. When responders got back from the call, they restored the designation.
Then, county firefighters were falsely accused of stealing a computer hard drive from the station.
Routine interactions quickly deteriorated between the volunteers, their supporters, and the professional county staff who were contracted to serve the region after the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District’s board voted to relinquish its independence.
Fearing an escalation that could put his people in harm’s way, CalFire and San Diego County Fire Authority Chief Tony Mecham last month moved his firefighters and equipment to a nearby CalFire station, leaving the district station to the volunteers.