The Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District will soon begin billing people or their insurance companies when firefighters respond to vehicle fires, crashes, water rescues, hazmat calls and other rescue events.
Its board voted last week to begin billing July 1 to recover costs for the services.
Anyone requiring the services, regardless of whether they live within the district’s coverage area and already pay a special assessment on their property, will be billed, according to a staff report. The district serves Riverbank as well as unincorporated areas in east Modesto, Empire, Waterford, La Grange and Hickman, covering 217 square miles.
The bills will range from $494 to $562 for “motor vehicle incidents,” but an extrication would cost an additional $1,483, or if a helicopter landing zone was needed, $454. Water rescues will cost $455 to $2,274, plus $57 per hour per firefighter. Hazmat calls will range from $796 to $6,707, plus additional costs if the response exceeds three hours.