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$26 Million Needed to Forge Unified San Diego Fire Agency

San Diego officials took a step today towards creating a unified fire protection agency for the county's backcountry. But the decision leaves open the question of where the money will come from. KPBS

San Diego officials took a step today towards creating a unified fire protection agency for the county's backcountry. But the decision leaves open the question of where the money will come from. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

San Diego is the only large California County with no coordinated fire protection plan for its backcountry.

A state commission made up of locally appointed officials has now approved a plan to consolidate multiple special districts and volunteer fire agencies into a regional fire protection system. They sent the plan on the County supervisors.

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Supervisor Dianne Jacob supports the idea.

Jacob : This was a landmark decision today, and now the ball's in our court.

However, Jacob acknowledges she doesn't know where the money will come from -- an estimated $26 million.

Commissioner Andrew Mensheck says the county should put the issue on the ballot.

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Mensheck : Then we need to go to the public and it's time: do you or do you not want to pay for fire protection?

The plan would extend fire protection coverage to more than 900,000 acres in San Diego's unincorporated backcountry.

Alison St John, KPBS News.