Yuba fire district to charge for accident response

Nonresidents involved in car accidents in the Dobbins/Oregon House Fire Protection District will be charged an extra fee for medical and emergency services, the district's board decided Thursday.

Fire Chief Mike Butler said the fee would only affect drivers who do not live in the Dobbins/Oregon House district. Residents, though, involved in an accident while under the influence of alcohol will also be charged.

Fire departments are able to collect money based on Federal Emergency Management Agency regulations, but many fail to do so.

Dobbins/Oregon House will contract with Fire Recovery LLC, a billing firm out of Roseville, to recover money for services rendered. There are roughly 10 departments in California that contract with Fire Recovery. The firm also contracts with departments nationwide.

Departments can also collect the money on their own, according to Fire Recovery's business development coordinator Mike Rivera.

Fees charged vary based on the type of accident and the services used. They can range from $200 to several thousand, Rivera said.

"If it's something simple like an oil spill it won't be much," Rivera said. "But we have a department in Texas that charges $40,000 for a hazmat cleanup. So it all depends on the circumstances."

Rivera said fire departments do not typically charge residents because they feel residents are already paying taxes for services.

When Dobbins/Oregon House Fire Protection District firefighters respond to a traffic collision involving an out-of-district driver, they will pass information about the driver, incident and the insurance to the firm.

The firm will then contact the insurance company or the party at fault for compensation.

As a volunteer department with a limited budget, Butler said much of their resources are used on accidents that involved people from out of the area.

"We've got four recreation spots in the area," he said. "People come here from all over the state."

The district covers 72 square miles, stretching from Collins Lake to Bullards Bar Reservoir.

Butler said the district responds to roughly 135 to 200 car accidents per year.

Board Chair Mike Hatherly said he had not heard any opposition from board members or the public.

"It doesn't affect the residents, except in a good way," he said. "I would've been surprised if someone did object."

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com