Kings County has abruptly shut down Station 12, the only staffed firehouse in Avenal, after a high-stakes clash with city officials over whether the new Avenal Community Center is safe to use. The closure follows a county inspection and an emergency meeting of the Board of Supervisors and leaves roughly 13,000 residents temporarily without a dedicated fire station. City leaders are accusing the county of overreach, while county officials insist they are acting to protect both the public and first responders.
Board Declares Emergency, Ends Contract
Last Saturday, the Kings County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to declare a public safety emergency and terminate the county’s contract to provide fire protection to Avenal, according to Kings County. Following the vote, Station 12 was closed and its personnel were reassigned, while the county coordinated coverage with partner agencies, as reported by ABC30. The conflict erupted over whether the city could safely use the community center for a scheduled boxing event.
Chief Cites Construction Deficiencies
Kings County Fire Chief John Chamberlin, who has been working as Avenal’s contract fire chief, said an inspection of the community center revealed missing electricity, fire alarms and a functioning sprinkler system, along with an inadequate water supply, making the building unsafe to occupy, as reported by ABC30. County officials said they will continue to respond to 911 calls in Avenal on a mutual-aid basis while partner agencies provide backup.
City: Temporary Occupancy, Event Went On
The City of Avenal countered that it had issued a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy allowing limited public use of the community center and that city staff and police were on site for the Underdog Boxing event. City Manager Antony Lopez urged the county to honor a six-month transition period and warned that closing the station would put residents at risk, according to The Sacramento Bee. The city’s online information about the Avenal Community Center outlines the project and its phased opening schedule, per the City of Avenal.
Mutual Aid And EMS Coverage
Kings County said emergency medical services will remain unchanged under existing contracts and that partner agencies, including CAL FIRE and Fresno County Fire, will provide additional support while coverage is adjusted, according to Kings County. Officials said 911 responses in Avenal will follow dispatch criteria and automatic-aid procedures during the transition, and county leaders emphasized that the move is intended to limit risk to emergency personnel rather than shut down community events.
Legal And Political Fallout
The confrontation comes after months of political turmoil. In December, Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker filed a lawsuit accusing city leaders of Brown Act violations during discussions about forming a municipal fire department. Local reporting by KVPR describes a broader political fight that includes recall efforts and cross-filings. Avenal officials say they plan to accelerate efforts to establish a local fire service and will evaluate legal options while the transition unfolds.
For now, residents are left to navigate a patchwork of interim coverage while city and county officials hash out who should be responsible for protecting Avenal. Both sides say they are working on contingency plans, but the larger battle over control of the town’s fire protection is clearly still burning.
