Progress Continues

The 1980's brought growth and prosperity to the Chino Valley. Many new business and residential developments established the need for additional personnel and the construction of two new stations. In 1985, the concept of a County-wide fire department was developed. The merger of the Chino Fire District and the San Bernardino County Fire Agency was planned to consolidate the District and the Agency under one governing group-the County Board of Supervisors. While the idea had merit, it was found to have a serious financial downside. The funds that were generated by the Chino Fire District for fire protection were not being spent in the District-they were shared with other communities. There was no local control for fire protection. This led to the creation of Proposition W for the 1990 election-the formation of an independent fire district.

The Chino Valley Independent Fire District was created as a Board-governed Fire District in November 1990. The City of Chino Hills was incorporated during the same election. This provided the District an opportunity to offer contract fire services to two cities, Chino and Chino Hills, and portions of unincorporated San Bernardino County.

The two new fire stations, that were designed in the 1980's, were completed in the early 1990's. Station 66, in Chino Hills, was completed in 1990 and Station 64, in Carbon Canyon, was completed in 1991. Five new Pierce Arrow 1500 GPM fire engines were ordered to replace the older engines that had serviced the District for the past 25 years. Staffing levels increased by one-third to accommodate the residential growth of the Chino Hills' area and the industrial growth of the City of Chino. These personnel were utilized to staff a second Paramedic unit for the District and to provide staffing for the 1994 Simon LTI, 100-foot, tillered ladder truck.