Kings County Ends Avenal Fire Protection After Safety Warnings Ignored

County officials terminated the fire services contract after the city proceeded with an event at an unsafe community center.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:25am

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A moody, cinematic painting of an empty city street at night, with the silhouette of a fire truck in the distance casting long shadows, conveying a sense of unease and political tension.The abrupt termination of fire protection services highlights the strained relationship between local governments and the challenges of balancing community needs with public safety concerns.Avenal Today

Kings County has terminated its fire protection contract with the city of Avenal after officials said the city disregarded warnings about holding an event at an under-construction community center that was deemed unsafe. The county's fire chief had determined the building was unsafe to occupy, but the city decided to move forward with the event anyway, leading to an emergency meeting where the county board of supervisors voted to end the fire services agreement.

Why it matters

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between local governments over public safety priorities and the challenges of balancing community needs with professional safety assessments, especially when it comes to the use of public facilities.

The details

According to the county, the city of Avenal was scheduled to hold an event on Sunday at the Avenal Community Center, which is still under construction. Kings County Fire Chief John Chamberlin determined the building was unsafe to occupy, but officials said the city decided to proceed with the event anyway. In response, the Kings County Board of Supervisors held an emergency meeting on Saturday and unanimously voted to declare a public safety emergency and terminate the fire services contract with Avenal.

  • The Kings County Board of Supervisors held an emergency meeting on Saturday, March 28.
  • Kings County's fire protection service for the city of Avenal formally concluded at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.

The players

Kings County Fire Department

The fire department that previously provided fire protection services to the city of Avenal.

Kings County Board of Supervisors

The governing body of Kings County that voted to terminate the fire services contract with Avenal.

John Chamberlin

The Kings County Fire Chief who determined the Avenal Community Center was unsafe to occupy.

Avenal

The city in California that had a fire protection contract with Kings County, which was terminated.

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What they’re saying

“I respect the role of the City Manager, but I must be clear: the City cannot have it both ways. It cannot expect the Kings County Fire Department to provide emergency services, assume responsibility when something goes wrong, and at the same time override professional safety determinations made by those trained and tasked to make them.”

— John Chamberlin, Kings County Fire Chief

What’s next

Kings County's fire protection service for the city of Avenal has formally concluded, and the city has indicated it has hired its own fire chief to provide local fire services.

The takeaway

This dispute underscores the challenges local governments can face when balancing community needs with public safety concerns, especially when it comes to the use of public facilities. The termination of the fire services contract highlights the importance of clear communication and alignment between city and county officials on safety standards.