REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution for Reorganization of the Yermo Community Services District’s Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services Functions with San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, adopt Resolution requesting the Local Agency Formation Commission for San Bernardino County to initiate proceedings for the sphere of influence amendment (expansion) and reorganization to include annexation of the Yermo Community Services District into the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District and divestiture of the fire protection and emergency medical services functions of the Yermo Community Services District, whereby San Bernardino County Fire Protection District will assume responsibility for fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services, as well as acknowledging and agreeing to the Local Agency Formation Commission for San Bernardino County requirement of imposing legal indemnification on the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District as outlined in the Local Agency Formation Commission for San Bernardino County Policy and Procedure Manual - Section II Accounting and Financial Policies, Chapter 2 Financial Policies for Application Processing, Policy 3.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Enhance Readiness for Major Emergency Responses.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this Resolution will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Resolution is for the request of the Local Agency Formation Commission for San Bernardino County (LAFCO) to initiate the necessary proceedings for annexation of the territory of the Yermo Community Services District (Yermo CSD) into the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) to assume responsibility for fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services, and divestiture of the Yermo CSD’s service responsibility.
As part of the LAFCO proceedings, and as set forth in California Revenue and Taxation Code, section 99(b)(5), San Bernardino County (County) shall negotiate the exchange of revenues on behalf of any affected special district before the proposal can be considered by LAFCO. An agreement addressing the transfer of a percentage of Yermo CSD’s ad valorem property tax to SBCFPD for the provision of fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services will be presented to the County Board of Supervisors for approval at a later date.
The SBCFPD Board of Directors (Board) will also need to act to expand the North Desert Service Zone to include the reorganization area. Currently, there are no plans to expand Service Zone FP-5 over the territory of Yermo CSD.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Community of Yermo currently faces significant challenges in sustaining reliable fire and emergency medical services due to limited financial resources, declining volunteer staffing availability, aging infrastructure, and increasing service demands along the Interstate 15 corridor. Annexation into SBCFPD provides a sustainable, long-term solution that improves emergency response capabilities, stabilizes service delivery, enhances regional coordination, and supports future economic development within the community and surrounding desert region.
The proposed annexation aligns with SBCFPD’s regional service model and advances the County’s broader goals of public safety, service efficiency, and strategic emergency response coverage throughout the High Desert and Interstate transportation corridors.
On March 19, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Yermo CSD adopted a Resolution No. 26-001 to initiate the process for annexation of Yermo CSD’s territory into SBCFPD. The resolution included a request for a sphere of influence amendment for SBCFPD, as well as requesting LAFCO to initiate the necessary proceedings for the reorganization to include annexation of the Yermo CSD’s territory into SBCFPD and divestiture of Yermo CSD’s fire protection and emergency medical services functions. SBCFPD is required to adopt a substantially similar resolution requesting LAFCO to initiate proceedings for the sphere of influence amendment, annexation, and divestiture. The recommended SBCFPD Board resolution, together with Yermo CSD’s resolution, will serve as the formal request for LAFCO to engage in the necessary proceedings.
If LAFCO ultimately approves the reorganization, SBCFPD would assume all responsibility for the provision of fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services to the community of Yermo. Following completion of the reorganization proceedings and execution of the property tax transfer, Yermo CSD will have no further service responsibility or funding obligations for fire protection, rescue, or emergency medical services within Yermo.
Approval of this item will also acknowledge and agree to the LAFCO requirement of imposing legal indemnification on SBCFPD as outlined in LAFCO’s Policy and Procedure Manual - Section II Accounting and Financial Policies, Chapter 2 Financial Policies for Application Processing, Policy 3. Policy 3 currently provides, in part, that the applicant and/or the real party in interest shall agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless LAFCO, its agents, officers, attorneys, and employees from any claim, action, or proceeding brought against any of them.
SBCFPD staff will return to the Board for approval of any LAFCO documents that require Board approval. SBCFPD staff will also return to the Board with any future recommendations regarding the boundaries of the North Desert Service Zone as they relate to the community of Yermo.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 9, 2026; LAFCO (Samuel Martinez, Executive Officer, 388-0480) on May 7, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Jessica Trillo, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on June 4, 2026.