ATTENTION: California Fire Departments…

It’s an all-too-familiar story. Your firehouse was built in the 1970s or 80s and it’s

• Too cramped for today’s engines.
• Missing private sleeping quarters for a modern crew.
• Lacking decontamination rooms or ADA compliance.
• Falling apart after decades of hard use.

Let’s face it - Your team deserves better — and your community does too. But rising construction costs and limited revenues make saving up impossible. Grants are hard to get and take years.

There are many financing options for California fire departments:

• Bonds
• Bank Loans
• Lease Financing
• USDA Loan

Fire departments qualify to finance stations and apparatus with tax-exempt interest rates. Which means that lenders and investors don’t have to pay income taxes on the interest they charge. And they pass the savings to your department!

It is not always simple, but we can help you cut through complexity with a solid financing strategy. 

With a solid financing strategy, you can get the stations you need and focus on protecting your community.

Step 1: The Assessment – What does your department need and what funding options are available?

Step 2: The Plan – A custom financing strategy with tools like General Obligation Bonds, Mello-Roos Bonds, Parcel Taxes, Lease Financing, or Bank or USDA loans 

‍Step 3: Secure Funding – Execute on the Plan to get the funding your department needs

Lakeside Fire Protection District’s Station 3 was outdated — tiny bays, no privacy, no decon room, and constant repairs. They couldn’t wait years to save up or hope for a grant. 

With our guidance, they used an affordable low-interest bank loan structured as a lease agreement to finance their $4.5 million project. Today, their crews work in a modern facility with private bedrooms, a weight room, classrooms, and a state-of-the-art decontamination room. 

“With an affordable loan, we were able to reset the time-clock for Station 3.” – Division Chief Humberto Lawler

Ridgeline Municipal Strategies, LLC is a registered municipal advisor with deep experience financing fire stations, apparatus, and public safety facilities across California. 

• Independent advice that puts your department — not the banks — first.
• Experience with all financing tools available to fire departments.
• Proven record helping districts and cities secure millions in funding.

Every day you delay is another day your crews respond from outdated stations. Don’t wait to take the first step toward the modern, safe facility your department and community deserve!

• Do we have to raise taxes?
• Not always. Options like lease financing or USDA loans don’t require voter approval.

• What if our community won’t pass a bond?
• We’ll explore alternatives like bank loans, lease financing, or forming a smaller assessment or Mello-Roos district.

• How long does it take?
• A financing plan can be ready in a few weeks. A financing can be put together in a few months. Voter approval and construction timelines depend on your project and community.

• What does it cost to work with you?
• We keep it lean — small team, virtual meetings, no fluff. That means lower costs for your department. As one fire chief put it, “Their costs are in-line with the industry, but the service is unmatched.”