Kings County Ends Fire Services in Avenal Over Community Center Dispute

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The Kings County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to end the county's fire services contract with the city of Avenal, citing a dispute over the safety of an event planned at the Avenal Community Center. The county said the building is unsafe, but the city has scheduled the event and concluded the building is safe to occupy.

Why it matters

This move highlights an ongoing tension between the county and city governments over public safety and control of emergency services. The dispute could leave Avenal residents without fire protection until the city can establish its own department.

The details

Kings County Fire Chief John Chamberlin, who also serves as Avenal's fire chief, determined that a building at the Avenal Community Center is unsafe to occupy. However, the city of Avenal has adopted a local ordinance to create its own fire department and has hired a fire chief. Despite the county's safety concerns, the city has scheduled an event at the community center and concluded the building is safe.

• The Kings County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Saturday, March 29, 2026 to end the county's fire services contract with Avenal.
• The termination of the fire services agreement is effective at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2026.

What’s next

The city of Avenal will need to quickly establish its own fire department to provide emergency services to residents after the county's contract ends.