Santee firefighter calling on voters to pass public safety ballot measure

SANTEE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A Santee firefighter is raising concerns about the city’s lack of fire stations, which he believes is putting residents’ lives at risk. The firefighter is urging voters to support a new ballot measure aimed at addressing the issue.

Captain Patrick Henry, who has served in Santee for 15 years, said that the city has only two fire stations protecting a population of more than 60,000. He noted that in 2000, the city had 18 firefighters on duty, but now there are only 17, despite the city’s growth.

Henry emphasized that the current shortage of personnel has led to response times of over eight minutes to the northern and southern ends of the city. He is pushing for the construction of at least two more fire stations, including one in the northern section of Santee, where developers have been trying to build more than 3,000 homes as part of the Fanita Ranch project. The project would include a new fire station.

That fire station would have to be paid for by the developer, according to a spokesperson for Yes on Measure S, as the new ballot initiative deals only with meeting the needs of current Santee residents.

Henry, skeptical that the Fanita Ranch project will ever be built, is supporting Measure S. The measure proposes a half-cent sales tax increase for 15 years, with funds going into infrastructure improvements and six additional firefighter positions. The initiative would help fund the construction of at least two more fire stations in Santee.

Mayor John Minto has supported the Fanita Ranch project, because he said it would help ease California's housing crisis. The project would set aside more than 2,000 acres as wildlife habitat and include amenities such as lakes, orchards, and vineyards.

However, the project has faced legal challenges. Earlier this month, a San Diego judge ruled in favor of environmental groups opposing the development due to concerns about wildlife habitat encroachment and wildfire risks.

John Buse of the Center for Biological Diversity argued that new residents from the Fanita Ranch development would strain the city’s evacuation routes during emergencies.

Henry acknowledged that raising taxes is a difficult decision but believes it is necessary for public safety. The measure will be on the November ballot and requires more than 50% of the vote to pass.