Why does it cost more to provide service in Orinda than Moraga?
All of these factors make it more expensive to provide emergency services to Orinda than to Moraga. Even though the two cities cover about the same number of square miles, there are three fire houses in Orinda, compared to Moraga’s two, for good reason. Orinda needed to staff three stations, even though 700 homes in South Orinda were in the Moraga Fire District, in order to be able to meet response time minimums. It is all about response time. There are many factors that cause it to be much more difficult, and therefore, more expensive to provide emergency services to Orinda, compared with Moraga. Topography plays a major role. Consider the narrow and winding streets, steep hills and long driveways, and abundant vegetation, and you’ll quickly see the challenges facing emergency service providers. A majority of Orinda’s homes and residential roadways were built in the 1950s with a focus on open space and large lots throughout the hilly terrain. Houses in Orinda, on average, are larger a
