Fire Danger: Chief Says Current Station Can't Handle Menlo Park Development
MENLO PARK (KCBS) -- Menlo Park firefighters say a plan to build more than 4,000 homes in the Bell Haven neighborhood is unsafe.
The fire chief wants more personnel and equipment stationed in the area, but says the existing fire house is too small.
The city's general plan calls for more than two million square feet of commercial space, 4,500 homes, and hundreds of hotel rooms.
Chief Harold Schapelhouman wrote a letter to the city saying the current fire station is too small for the number of firefighters and trucks he needs to adequately serve the area.
"There's some conflicts with the general plan – that's why we wrote that letter; that's why those comments are on our website. And, we're hoping to get some level resolution, because it's about public safety," Schapelhouman said.
He is hoping to work things out with the city.
"We're thankful that the area's growing. I think a lot of people see that there's a lot of good, there's a lot of concern about it, too. And, this is one of those areas that there is a concern about public safety keeping pace both with the size of the building, and the number of personnel that will be able to respond out there," Schapelhouman said.
