Another 106 firefighter positions removed from the streets in FY12
Kerry Cavanaugh of the Los Angeles Daily News previewed changes in Los Angeles Fire Department deployment that were to be announced today:
LAFD plan aiming to do more with less
Since 2008, the department's budget has shrunk by about $100 million and the LAFD hasn't hired a single firefighter.
In 2009, the fire department went on a "modified coverage plan," which closed fire companies on a rotating basis. Each day, 122 fewer fighters were assigned to stations.
The result was a chaotic system in which firefighters were shuttled all over town to work with people they didn't know – not a good situation for people who work in life-threatening conditions.
In LAFD there has been buzz about "hard closures" – permanent closing of companies – in the next budget year.
Cavanaugh explains the overall plan:
Fire Chief Millage Peaks' redeployment plan will permanently and selectively close fire companies based on the computer modeling data (from the last three years).
He'll reduce the number of staffed fire engines in areas where demand is low, and increase medical response in areas where demand is high.
Some 10 fire companies will be reassigned as paramedic resources – a reflection of the high number of medical calls.
The service closures will mean 106 fewer firefighters assigned to stations each day.
Instead, they'll fill in for firefighters who are sick, on vacation or in training, which will reduce overtime expenses.
By permanently cutting fire resources, the department will need 318 fewer firefighters.
(No one will be laid off, but position vacancies will not be filled.)
While NOT officially posted, it appears that 12 engines and six light forces (truck companies) will close.
Some positiona will be used to restore rescue ambulances that were closed in 2009. The article points out that 4 out of every 5 calls to LAFD are medical.
There is additional reorganization at the command level.
Anticipated to close:
- Engines 1, 20, 35, 50, 69, 74, 73, 75, 92, 96, 105, and 209
- Light Forces (trucks) 17, 28, 38, 47, 58 and 72.
Mike "FossilMedic" Ward
Also on FireGeezer…
- LAFD reduces Light Force staffing to put 11 additional ambulances on the road – April 30, 2013
- LAFD gets $1.6M to staff 11 ambulances with overtime crews until June – May 7, 2013
- Reforms proposed for New South Wales Ambulance Service – December 22, 2012
- “Long-nosing” … a practice lost to technology – January 22, 2013
