SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday gave final approval to a $15.5 million plan to merge a dozen rural fire districts, the first step in an oft-stated goal of unifying county firefighting efforts.

Consolidation talks have been under way since the devastating Cedar and Paradise fires of 2003 and the Harris, Witch Creek and Rice fires last year.

Proponents argue that consolidation will enable firefighters to act more efficiently in emergency situations.

The voluntary plan was accepted by the De Luz, Sunshine Summit, Inter-mountain, Ranchita, Shelter Valley, Ocotillo, San Pasqual, Mount Laguna, Pine Valley, Boulevard, Campo and San Diego Rural fire agencies.

The 11 that opted out were Elfin Forest, Deer Springs, Valley Center, Yuima, Pauma, Mootamai, Palomar Mountain, Ramona, Julian-Cuyamaca, Borrego Springs and East County.

The county plan is designed to improve coordination in battling wildfires, but will also allow the districts to provide workers' compensation coverage for volunteer firefighters. The county will hire a fire warden to help the agencies with administrative tasks and grant writing.

The agencies joining the plan cover 1.5 million acres, including some of the most fire-prone land in the county.

The second reading of the ordinance was approved without comment on the supervisors' consent agenda.

The board also approved a proposal to have county staff find ways to help wildfire victims who have run into legal snags while trying to rebuild.

Supervisor Dianne Jacob gave an example of a property owner who has diligently paid taxes but cannot restore his home because it was discovered that the land was illegally subdivided.

The chief administrative officer will "investigate options" for those who run into such obstacles, Jacob said. She said changes to state law might be required in some instances.

At the next meeting, on Aug. 5, the supervisors will be asked to approve a plan to put a $52 parcel tax on the November ballot that would fund firefighting efforts.