Elk Community Services District

PO Box 1, 6129 S Hwy 1, Elk, CA 95432  -  707.877.1800 

Welcome to the Elk Community Services District website. For over 70 years, Elk's dedicated volunteer firefighters have provided fire protection, emergency medical, BLS ambulance, and rescue services to our coastal community.  Whether you're a resident, visitor, or partner agency, you'll find information about our services, how we operate, our financials, how to prepare for emergencies, and the Elk Volunteer Fire Department. Please use the menu on the left to explore. 

Our History

The Elk Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1956 following the destructive Greenwood Hotel fire, and from 1957 to 1990 it operated informally under the umbrella of the Elk County Water District.  On April 3, 1990, the Elk Community Services District was formed under California Government Code §61000 with statutory authority to provide fire, EMS and ambulance services throughout its jurisdiction.  With strong voter approval, the District became the legal foundation and reliable funding source for fire protection and emergency medical services in the coastal village of Elk and adjoining areas.  In 1997, the Elk VFD officially became a non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public benefit charitable corporation. (More information about the Elk Volunteer Fire Department can be found in the menu item on the left.)

Governance

An elected five-member Board of Directors governs the functions of the Elk Community Services District.  Each Director serves a four-year term without compensation.  Board meetings are held every second Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Firehouse, located at 6129 S Hwy 1, Elk. Agendas are posted publicly at least 72 hours in advance of each meeting at the Elk Post Office, Elk Store, Elk Garage, Greenwood Community Center, and on this website.

Our District

The Elk CSD boundaries encompass about 57 square miles of widely variable topography (see map at right for the District's location within the State and County).  Approximately 400-450 residents live in the District full-time, a population that can soar to more than 2,500 during peak summer months with visitors and tourists.

How We're Funded

As the responsible government entity, the Elk CSD levies a voter-approved "special tax" on property parcels with structures and receives a small allocation of Mendocino County's ad valorem property taxes.  The District is the legal owner of all fire apparatus, vehicles, tools/equipment, and other assets used by the Elk Volunteer Fire Department.  

The District also receives discretionary funding from several county sources, allocated at the authorization of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors:

• Prop 172 Public Safety sales tax revenue, received since 2016 following the 2015 formation of the Mendocino County Association of Fire Districts (these tax revenues partially offset the State's ERAF diversion of fire district funds since the early 1990s ... previously reimbursement funds were allocated only to County agencies)

• Measure D Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on private campgrounds in unincorporated areas, received since 2021 

• Measure P, a countywide 0.25% sales tax approved by voters, received since 2024.  This tax sunsets in 2033.

Together, these non-property tax sources bring the District about $115,000 annually.

What the District Does

While the Elk Community Services District is the governing and funding body, it is the Elk Volunteer Fire Department that delivers fire protection, ambulance, EMS, and rescue services to the community, and it is the VFD that residents and visitors most directly know and rely on.

The District's role is to budget and manage funding, ensure legal compliance, enter into agreements with other agencies, and plan for future needs.  It sets the policies and rules that govern the Elk VFD, and based on available financial resources, funds operational and administrative costs, maintenance, training, public outreach, and capital expenditures — prioritizing the replacement and improvement of equipment and infrastructure.  Both the District and the Elk VFD actively pursue grant funding for projects and equipment purchases.

Under fire mutual aid agreements, contract agreements, and EMS protocols, the District's fire and ambulance services may be dispatched to assist other agencies or participate in large incident responses, including fire strike teams.  As part of Mendocino County's EMS network, Elk's BLS ambulance is frequently called upon for emergency medical assistance and patient transport beyond the District's boundaries — services made possible only through the dedication and training of the women and men of the Elk Volunteer Fire Department.

Fire & Life Safety Inspections

Since 2021, the District has performed mandated annual Fire and Life Safety inspections of transient-occupancy inns, vacation rentals, schools, and other properties, in accordance with Health and Safety Code §13146 et seq.  Members of the Elk VFD conduct these inspections and follow up as needed, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal monitors inspection status annually.

Challenges We Face

The District and its volunteer firefighters face ongoing challenges, including inadequate funding, declining volunteerism, increasingly complex regulatory requirements, limited job opportunities and housing, no nearby stores, markets, gas stations, volunteer retention, aging assets, and infrastructure shortcomings.  To address these, the Elk CSD and Elk VFD actively coordinate with other fire agencies to find operational efficiencies and stay informed of new developments affecting volunteer fire departments and public fire agencies.  The District supports and participates in the Mendocino County Association of Fire Districts (MCAFD) and the Mendocino County Fire Chiefs' Association (MCFCA).

SERVICES

• Ambulance (Basic Life Support)

• Emergency Medical (First-responder and EMT levels)

• Fire Protection

• Rescue

• Fire and Life Safety inspections

• Community Outreach