Residents On Edge As Peninsula Fire Station Closes During Peak Fire Season
PALO ALTO (KPIX 5) -- You won't see the garage at Fire Station 8 in Foothills Park opening and closing on a regular basis for the next 4 months. No sirens will go off, and the metal gate out front will stay locked.
That's because the Palo Alto Fire Department has decided to close the seasonal station for the 1st time in years.
"We were shocked," said Ryan Stoddard, Union President of Local 1319. "The firefighters were shocked because the overall cost to keeping it open is so low, especially for an affluent city like Palo Alto and the risk is so high."
The closure will save the city more than a quarter million dollars in overtime pay. The department's total budget is $28 million.
"A quarter million dollars is very little to ask for. Human life and the property up here is worth a quarter million dollars and that protection for the 'what if' situation -- if there is a fire, if somebody does get a bee sting and needs a paramedic, if there's a biker down on the road," said Stoddard.
There are about 160 homes in the immediate area, and many campers, bikers and joggers who use Foothills Park.
PAFD Chief Eric Nickel told KPIX 5 the department has done a detailed analysis -
"Out of a total of 43 calls last summer more than half were not for emergencies and the fire engine was cancelled before arriving on the scene."
The chief went on to say the department has mutual aid agreements with neighboring agencies in Woodside and Santa Clara County. The money will be used more efficiently elsewhere, and safety efforts won't be impacted.
"I don't think that's a good idea, although everyone's always fighting about money," says Bill Jensen, who uses the park.
Fellow park goer Matt Levander agrees.
"Well they might not really save money because when there's a big fire - I don't know, I don't feel that good about it. I mean I ride up here all the time and I'd rather there be local fire guys."
The fire chief says he's confident the city and nearby agencies will be able to respond to the area within reasonable response times, which for a rural area like this one is within 20 minutes, 90 percent of the time.
So far, the city has been meeting that target, though the union believes, an open fire station would shave off some of that critical time.
