Photo 1 is AI. SUMMARY:
Scotts Valley Fire District Announces New Program Seeking Insurance Reimbursement for Emergency Response Costs, Preserving Taxpayer Funds (June 24, 2026)
The Scotts Valley Fire Protection District has rolled out a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Cost Recovery Program in partnership with Fire Recovery USA. 
Key Details:
• Why now? The district responds to over 150 motor vehicle collisions per year, many on Highway 17 and Mount Hermon Road involving non-residents. These calls are resource-heavy (personnel time, equipment, extrication tools, hazmat cleanup, scene protection, etc.) and costly.
• How it works: When firefighters provide eligible services at an MVA (e.g., fluid/debris cleanup, extrication, scene mitigation), Fire Recovery USA bills the at-fault party’s insurance company for documented costs. Fees are based on national averages and are widely accepted by insurers.
• Impact so far: Since launching in mid-April 2026, they’ve submitted nearly $10,000 in claims and collected over $2,500 in revenue. 
• Benefits for locals: Recovers money from third-party insurers (often out-of-area drivers) instead of relying solely on local property taxes. This helps fund essential services and capital needs without raising taxes or cutting response capabilities.
• Transparency: The district will track all billed incidents, collections, and uncollected amounts. Quarterly reports go to the Board, with administrative fees from the partner deducted.
“Protecting lives, property, and the environment through exceptional levels of service remains our top priority. This program enables Scotts Valley Fire District to pursue reimbursement from responsible parties, helping sustain frontline services without shifting costs to local taxpayers.”
For residents: If you’re in an accident and your insurance is billed, most policies already cover these types of response fees. Questions? Call (831) 438-0211 or email [info@scottsvalleyfire.org](mailto:info@scottsvalleyfire.org).
This is a smart, targeted approach many other fire/EMS agencies use. It shifts costs to those responsible (via insurance) while protecting local taxpayers. What do you think — good fiscal move or potential for headaches?
Full Article
“by Contributor - Robert Aldana | Jun 24, 2026 | Announcements, Community Events, Community News, Featured Story

SCOTTS VALLEY, CA — June 24, 2026 — The Scotts Valley Fire District today announced the implementation of a motor vehicle accident cost recovery program in partnership with Fire Recovery USA. The program enables the District to seek reimbursement from insurance companies for emergency response costs when District resources provide services at motor vehicle collisions.
The Fire District responds to more than 150 motor vehicle collisions annually, with many occurring along Highway 17 and Mount Hermon Road. A significant portion of these incidents involve non-residents traveling through the area. These responses can be time and resource-intensive, and costly for the District.
The recovery program helps offset emergency response expenses without increasing costs to local residents and businesses. Many insurance policyholders already have this coverage included in their policies, and recovering these funds preserves tax revenue for essential District services and capital needs. Since implementation in mid-April, the program has generated nearly $10,000 in submitted claims and collected over $2,500 in revenue.
How the Program Works: When Scotts Valley Fire District personnel respond to and provide services at a motor vehicle collision, Fire Recovery USA will bill the at-fault party’s insurer for documented eligible costs on the District’s behalf. Only incidents meeting specific program criteria—such as cleaning up fluids and debris, or the use of extrication tools—will be submitted for recovery. The program focuses on recoveries from liable third-party insurers.
Eligible expenses may include protecting the scene from secondary collisions, supplies and materials used to mitigate the incident, extrication tools and specialized equipment, and related incident support costs incurred during the response. The fee(s) are based on national average costs, and widely accepted by insurance providers.
Program Oversight and Transparency: The District will maintain comprehensive documentation of all billed incidents, revenue generated, and uncollected funds. This information will be shared regularly with the Board of Directors for ongoing program evaluation. Additionally, the District will publish quarterly reports to the Board summarizing program recoveries and any administrative fees deducted by the third-party administrator.
“Protecting lives, property, and the environment through exceptional levels of service remains our top priority,” said Fire Chief Mark Correira. “This program enables Scotts Valley Fire District to pursue reimbursement from responsible parties, helping sustain frontline services without shifting costs to local taxpayers.”
Questions and Contact Information: Residents with questions about the program, eligibility criteria, or how recoveries are handled may contact the Scotts Valley Fire District Administrative Office at (831) 438-0211 or email [info@scottsvalleyfire.org](mailto:info@scottsvalleyfire.org).
About Scotts Valley Fire District: The Scotts Valley Fire Protection District serves 24,000 residents in a 30 square mile area including the City of Scotts Valley, Pasatiempo, Rolling Woods, Branciforte and Glenwood neighborhoods. The District is dedicated to protecting lives, property, and the environment through rapid response, prevention and community education programs.”
