Chumash Paying for More Firefighters, Ladder Truck

A 13-year-old contract between County Fire and the Chumash was beefed up this week with the Board of Supervisors’s approval. Since 2002, the tribe has paid for three firefighters to fill one position 24/7 at Station 32 in Santa Ynez. Under the new agreement, the tribe will also foot the bill for three firefighters to continuously man Station 30 in Solvang; the six positions will cost nearly $1.2 million per year. The tribe will also pay $1.6 million for the department to buy an aerial ladder truck, which could be used for emergencies at its planned 12-story casino tower