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Attend the public board meeting Thursday, October 22, at 3:00 p.m. at Station 75, 8801 Rock Creek Road. Hear the shared-services proposal, ask questions, and join the discussion about the department’s future. An early closed session is scheduled, with the meeting returning to open session at 3:45 p.m. MEETING AGENDA & ZOOM INFORMATION POSTED AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE A fire chief’s work begins long before an emergency call. It includes preparing crews, managing resources, ma

DISCLAIMER: This article will likely be called divisive or biased by those who prefer the status quo. But when the choice is between improving public safety, supporting firefighters, and meeting this community's critical needs—or continuing patterns of dysfunction—there is an unavoidable line to draw. The contributor accepts that criticism without hesitation. This is not about creating division for its own sake. It is about being clear about what is at stake: a stronger Fire

With our landmark new bridge across the South Fork of the American River, Mosquito steps into a new era—without letting go of the wooden crossing, the shared values, and the generations that shaped the community. We will never forget the old bridge. Every crossing was an experience, and future generations will wonder how we used it every day. A crossing on the final night before the New Mosquito Bridge opening to the public on 9.26.2026. We will remember the creak of its wood

El Dorado County officials have formally notified the Mosquito Fire Protection District Board that efforts to complete a shared-services agreement with Garden Valley Fire Protection District have failed, placing the District at a critical crossroads. The September 11 letter, reflecting work involving County officials, El Dorado LAFCO, and Garden Valley Fire Protection District representatives, warns that the District must establish a long-term financial plan or risk potential

Monday afternoon (9/14) is another meeting where Mosquito residents look for progress—and instead find mixed signals. A closed-session item on a Shared Chief Services Agreement appears alongside a proposal to replace members of the negotiating committee. For a community already waiting for answers, it is hard not to wonder: Are negotiations moving forward, or are they stalled again? Residents are not asking for every private detail. They want confidence that Mosquito Fire can

The Shared Services Agreement Was Within Reach. So Why Did It Stall? Before the board can decide who should negotiate Mosquito’s future, it must confront what kind of department it wants Mosquito to be. Director Trent Williams described the district as “the McDonald’s of the fire service”—a place where inexperienced people come to gain skills before moving on to better-paid opportunities. Director Williams' comment compares Mosquito Fire to the McDonald's of the Fire Service.

After nearly a year of discussions aimed at stabilizing Mosquito Fire’s leadership, operations, and fiscal future, the shared-services agreement with Garden Valley has been paused. Public records show a tentative August agreement, disputed revisions, and a process that may now be delayed until after the election. There will be a public meeting on Tuesday, September 1st at 7:00 pm at Mosquito Fire Station to consider removing Director Buhnerkempe or Director Williams from the

An El Dorado County official is publicly challenging Mosquito Fire Protection District leadership over what she says is misinformation being provided to the community about the proposed shared services agreement with Garden Valley Fire Protection District. District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin, who attended the August 13 meeting with Mosquito, Garden Valley, El Dorado County, and LAFCO representatives, says both districts had agreed to the terms of the agreement pending attorney

The Mosquito Fire Protection District Board meeting has been rescheduled just one day before its originally scheduled date due to an agenda-posting issue. The Thursday 8/27 meeting will be postponed to 9/1 at 7:00pm - this will allow for residents that are typically unable to attend the meetings during working hours to be present.

Garden Valley Meeting Update: Questions Remain This morning’s (8/25/2026 )Garden Valley Fire Protection District Board meeting raised new questions about the status of the proposed Shared Services Agreement with Mosquito Fire. Garden Valley representatives reported that agreement language continues to move back and forth by email. Their attorney has revised portions of the document, while representatives also cited unresolved issues, disputed wording, and changes to provision

Director Maria Rodriguez is asking the Mosquito Fire Protection District Board to change course on the shared services negotiations—calling for a swap on the committee currently led by Directors Trent Williams and Bill Buhnerkempe. Her message is clear: Mosquito needs a negotiating team that will move with urgency and deliver measurable progress. At the August 27 Board meeting, Rodriguez will ask the Board to appoint her to the Garden Valley 2x2 shared-services committee and

Eight candidates are seeking four seats on the Mosquito Fire Protection District Board in the November 3rd election. This first look introduces the candidates who chose to share a statement with the community, offering residents an early view of their backgrounds, priorities, and vision for Mosquito Fire Protection District. The election presents an important choice about the district’s future. Residents are hearing two very different approaches: one rooted in familiar patter

Mosquito Fire Protection District faces urgent, practical work: stabilizing its finances, supporting its personnel, and completing a shared-services agreement that could shape the District’s future. Those priorities should have been the focus of the August 3rd and 10th special Board meetings (yes, there were two special meetings already this month). Instead, much of the meetings were consumed by procedural detours, document disputes, and arguments that did little to move the

Election season is officially underway for the Mosquito Fire Protection District, bringing an astounding level of interest in the future of local emergency services. Eight candidates are seeking four open positions on the District’s Board of Directors—an unusually robust response at a defining moment for the community. The candidates listed in El Dorado County’s election report are: - Meredith Blain - William Buhnerkempe - Jamae Lacey - James “Scott” Laing - Jackie LeMast

The Mosquito community came together in a big way for this year’s National Night Out, celebrating the firefighters, volunteers, residents, and supporters who help protect our community and make it a more connected, resilient place to live. With a blockbuster movie screening and a Hollywood-inspired red-carpet theme, the event transformed the fire department yard into a lively gathering place for neighbors of all ages. Historical artifacts honoring the station’s history and ge

The community was outraged to learn of a new tax measure floated at last month's July 2026 Mosquito Fire Board meeting, especially given the delays and lack of visible progress toward securing reliable fire and emergency services. The meeting opened with public comment, showering praise on the two directors assigned to advance the community's shared services agreement. But for many residents who have watched years of dysfunction play out in public meetings, social media threa

“Nothing To Sign”: Mosquito’s Shared Services Talks Burn Time as Residents Call for Urgency Mosquito residents have been told for months that their board “supports” a shared services agreement with Garden Valley Fire. They’ve also been told, just as plainly, that “there is nothing to sign.” Both statements can’t carry the same weight when the district’s chief contract has expired, the station office has no administrator, and the only thing standing between “concept” and “cont

Mosquito residents who drove to the Garden Valley board meeting heard a very different story about shared services than what they’ve been told at home, exposing a growing gap between the two districts’ narratives. At Garden Valley, the chair noted a “full house” and invited introductions, creating a welcoming, transparent tone. Mosquito residents used that space to apologize for their board, declare strong support for the shared services agreement, and plead for patience unti

Following the July Mosquito Fire Protection District Board meeting, one thing has become unmistakably clear: the community is paying attention—and speaking up. Residents across Mosquito have taken to social media, neighborhood conversations, and direct outreach to better understand what is happening—or more accurately, what is not happening—with the critically needed Shared Services Agreement between Mosquito Fire Protection District and Garden Valley Fire Protection District

The July 2026 Mosquito Fire Protection District Board of Directors meeting at Station 75 drew one of the largest turnouts of community members and fire personnel in recent years, both in person and online, and highlighted deep concern about the future of local fire and emergency services. It also exposed a long‑running tension over who the District is ultimately accountable to: the people who govern it, or the people who depend on it for their safety. Meeting overview As we w