GENEVA IS THE 2nd LARGEST CITY IN SWITZERLAND, after Zurich, and has built its reputation and economy as a neutral international center.

But they are certainly not concerned with their reputation for fire and emergency services.  The city’s newspaper, Tribune de Geneve, has obtained a confidential report that was recently prepared for Pierre Maudet, the administrative councilor who is in charge of security for the city.

The report is extremely critical of the state of emergency preparedness, but is especially harsh in its criticism of the Asters fire station.  Located in the heart of a high-rise apartment development, it says that the station is “Dilapidated, poorly equipped and unsuitable for the potential tasks it faces” and it “no longer guarantees a response in a sufficiently short time.”

The Asters fire station (Frautschi/Tribune photo)

And then it goes on to say that the entire city’s fire station facilities generally are inadequate and outmoded.  There are only 3 fire stations serving the city of over 188,000 population and of the three, only one is in service 24 hours a day.  The other two, including the Asters station, are only in service from 7 am to 9 pm.

You can read the full story HERE.

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