Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson secured backing to build a new combined fire and ambulance station on government-owned land opposite the Sefton Express at Ronaldsway, and to convert the Southlands ambulance station on the Port Erin-Port St Mary boundary into a fire station.

Mr Watterson described the fire station at Castletown as 'decaying' and having inadequate facilities - and none at all for female firefighters - which meant it was no longer fit for purpose. Port Erin's fire station was in a 'similar if not worse state', he said. Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) expressed concern about the level of professional fees, and costs of building regulation, site supervision and a feasibility study.

The revenue would fund construction of nearly 20 fire stations designed to fill geographical gaps where response times are longer than the standard of 7 minutes, 30 seconds.

Because the bond would raise property taxes, two-thirds voter approval would be necessary for passage.

A Folsom-based consultant, Citygate, found in 2010 that San Diego was in need of 19 new fire stations, of which 10 were considered critical.

It was discovered since then that the mechanism used to judge response times was flawed, so Citygate was re-hired to provide an update of their report. According to San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Chief Brian Fennessy, the results won't be much different, but they could revise planned locations, priorities or even the number of stations needed.

The proposal now moves to the full Los Angeles City Council for a vote.

Officials contend the new station is needed to replace the Valley's oldest fire house, the 1930s-era Station 39 on Sylvan Street.

A two-story station, the fire house will operate 24 hours a day. At least 16 firefighters or emergency personnel will work on site.

The project, which faces dozens of nearby homes, has drawn concern from neighbors. The sirens will be a nuisance and a planned sound wall won't help, locals argue.

"The sounds will be horrible," said Valley resident Jeffrey Lynn. "There's no way to mitigate these things."

Lynn and other neighbors sued the city over the council's original approval of the fire house in June 2014, arguing the noise and other environmental effects of the proposed station should have been studied.

The lawsuit prompted City Hall officials to rescind the project's approval in December 2014. and order a fuller environmental report, which was finalized in June.

That study called the noise of the sirens "significant." But with the sound walls -- which will be at least 10 feet -- the siren noise will be lessened, the report states.

State law requires fire department staff to sound the siren when exiting the station to respond to emergency calls. However, "emergency responders make every effort to minimize use of the siren if the station is located in a residential setting," according to an earlier city review.

The matching grant program also represents a cost-effective use of limited federal funds. While applicants must offer a minimum of 50 percent in cost-share match for its request, many provide much more, which resulted in every federal dollar being matched with $1.61 in spending from the recipient. The grants help underwrite the cost of useful items and equipment to help volunteer firefighters meet the unexpected and often unpredictable threat of wildfires in fields, forests, open spaces, and marshes. Funds can be used to purchase items such as Nomex – the lightweight fire-resistant clothing used by wildland firefighters – or necessary equipment such as two-way radios, hoses, drip torches, flashlights, pumps, hoses, gloves, boots or chainsaws.

The 60 volunteer fire companies in the First State are extremely vital to the mission of the Delaware Forest Service as they provide much of the manpower and equipment to fight wildfires in the state. In fact, many members of Delaware’s wildland fire crew who help battle blazes in the western United States are drawn from the ranks of local volunteer fire companies.