The property CalFire is looking at for its new headquarters. Map via the City of Rio Dell.

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PREVIOUSLY:

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Last we checked in with the Calfire Humboldt-Del Norte unit’s plan to move from its longtime base in Rohnerville Fortuna to Rio Dell, city officials were not entirely happy with the idea, which would take a prime developable parcel right next to the highway off the market. There go the tax revenue that new homes and businesses on that site might provide.

But the city has been dreaming such dreams for decades, and now the state owns the land. They’re moving forward with the new CalFire headquarters, and are now laying the groundwork for a required environmental impact report.

To that end, there’ll be a public meeting in Rio Dell on the evening of May 14. A full “notice of preparation,” including information about what they’re looking to learn at this meeting, can be found at this link.

It sounds like they’re going big. According to the notice of preparation, the new headquarters, the 18-acre site will include 

[A]n emergency command center; a future fire station; facilities to house administrative programs; a CAL FIRE training facility; Law Enforcement Program; Resource Management Program; State Fire Marshall Program, and related staff; facilities for onsite parking, maintenance, and use of CAL FIRE trucks and equipment; other support buildings; covered parking with photovoltaic panels; onsite circulation; a telecommunication tower; facility supporting infrastructure and utilities including a sewer system, domestic and fire water systems, stormwater detention, site lighting and fencing, and landscaping and irrigation.

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Here’s the full meeting notice from California’s Department of General Services:

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), with assistance from the State of California Department of General Services (DGS), will be the lead agency and will prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) compliant with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), to determine potentially significant adverse environmental impacts resulting from the construction and operation of the proposed CAL FIRE Humboldt – Del Norte Unit Headquarters Facility Relocation Project (also referred to as “the proposed project”). An Initial Study will not be prepared (CEQA Guidelines Section 15063[a]). DGS will rely on responsible and trustee agencies to provide information relevant to the analysis of resources falling within the jurisdiction of such agencies. Input is requested on:

  • The scope and content of the environmental analysis, including identification of specific issues that will require closer study due to the location, scale, and character of the project;
  • Mitigation, including that which would avoid or reduce potentially significant impacts; and
  • Alternatives to the proposed project that could potentially avoid or reduce potentially significant impacts.

Written comments on the Notice of Preparation: The Notice of Preparation is being circulated for public review and comment for a period of 30 days beginning April 29, 2025. Written comments will be accepted through May 29, 2025. Comments, along with the name and contact information of the appropriate person in your organization, should be addressed to:

Stephanie Coleman, Senior Environmental Planner,
Department of General Services, Real Estate Services Division
Project Management and Development Branch / Environmental Unit
707 3rd Street, 4th Floor
West Sacramento, CA 95605
environmental@dgs.ca.gov

A public scoping meeting will be held to provide opportunities for agencies and interested parties to obtain information about the project, ask questions of the project team, and provide comments on the scope of the environmental analysis. A brief presentation on the proposed project and the CEQA process will be given at the start of the meeting, followed by an open house format where attendees will have the opportunity to talk to planning team members. All comments made at the meeting will have to be submitted in writing to be considered during preparation of the EIR.

  • Date and Time: May 14, 2025, 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: Rio Dell Elementary School Multipurpose Room — 95 Center Street, Rio Dell, CA 95562

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