The future of fire protection in the South Bay is in the balance as Santa Clara County supervisors aim to transition from a fire department run by Cal Fire to one run by the county.

Santa Clara County’s Local Agency Formation Commission held a public hearing Wednesday where residents were able to weigh in on the plan.

At issue is a directive from county supervisors to the county fire department to expand its services into Morgan Hill, unincorporated Gilroy and San Martin as part of a plan to help address a budget deficit. The South County Fire District, which is headed by Cal Fire, will dissolve, and the county will end an $8 million annual contract with the state agency.

Cal Fire for decades has been contracted to provide service for unincorporated areas of Morgan Hill, San Martin, and

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