Ann Arbor fire station closure proposal: Dates announced for 5 community forums
Before Ann Arbor officials give further consideration to Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard's plan to close fire stations, they're planning to hold a series of community meetings in each of the city's five wards.
The city released the following schedule this week:
- Sept. 18, 6-8 p.m., Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard
- Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m., Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave.
- Sept. 20, 6-8 p.m., Downtown Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.
- Sept. 25, 6-8 p.m., Traverwood Library, 3333 Traverwood Drive
- Sept. 26, 6-8 p.m., CTN Studios, 2805 S. Industrial Highway
City officials said the last meeting will be taped and replayed on CTN Channel 19 and will be available online to replay at http://a2cititv.pegcentral.com.
The Ann Arbor Fire Department could be reduced from five to three stations if the city goes forward with a recommendation from Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
One station would be located on the north side of the city (Station 5 off Plymouth Road on Beal Avenue), one on the south side of the city (Station 2 at Stadium and Packard) and one in downtown Ann Arbor (Station 1 at Fifth Avenue and Huron).
That plan requires reopening Station 2, which was closed several years ago, and closing Station 3 at 2130 Jackson Ave., Station 4 at 2415 Huron Parkway, and Station 6 at 1881 Briarwood Circle.
With the upcoming community meetings, Ann Arbor officials intend to give citizens the opportunity to hear more about the proposal and ask specific questions pertaining to fire suppression coverage.
Hubbard repeatedly has pointed out the Occupational Safety and Health Association has a "two-in/two-out law," which requires at least four personnel on scene before anyone can enter a burning building.
The city's current response model includes three firefighters staffed at each station, which means two trucks have to be on scene before firefighters can enter a burning building.
Hubbard said the plan to consolidate fire stations would allow the fire department to better meet National Fire Protection Association response standards because four firefighters would be on duty at each of the three stations versus the current model which only allows for three firefighters on duty at each station.
- Go here to watch Hubbard's presentation to the City Council or go here to watch an interview of Hubbard on CTN's "Conversations" program.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Kai Petainen
Sun, Sep 16, 2012 : 11:10 p.m.
1 Rescue Unit, 2 Trucks, 2 Engines, 1 Chief Officer Car, 2 Hazmat Units, 6 D/O, 8 FF, 2 LT, 1 CAPT. How many events required at least that many people/trucks.... and if so.... when did they happen and what was the situation? In the past 10 years, how many events have occurred that required a response that needed +50 hours of on site work for one incident? The fire department has not been thanked for the unspoken work that they do for this community.
Kai Petainen
Sun, Sep 16, 2012 : 11:02 p.m.
"top ten" might be a bad choice of words.... but is there a listing of the top 10 fire department calls (in terms of work hours or trucks) that they have responded to in the past 10 years.
talker
Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
Will yesterday's two fires "fire up" more people to insist we need more firefighters and not fewer fire stations? Yesterday's fires required quick, professional firefighting. Though near, but not identical in time, A2 could have more than one fire at a time and there could be more complications and more residents at a fire site.
talker
Tue, Sep 11, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
Vote "no" for "art" and "no" for building a new main library. We need the basic services of fire and police protection.
Romie
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.
Really? No replies to my posts from 8/24 after the flurry from you all on 8/22 and 8/23? I'm dying to know how Ann Arbor residents and employees feel about the new FF compensation package. Anybody read the contract on the city website?
Romie
Sat, Aug 25, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
I have a good pal who is considering a job offer from Ann Arbor. He is young and single, so he might take it. Here are the hard facts, straight from the horses mouth. AA in going to hire 6 Firefighters right now. The pay is less than $15 an hour, no OT, 10 years to vest in the pension, and no retirement medical. The medical benefits require a huge copay and premium share as well. If you are dumb enough to have kids and a wife, you pay through the teeth for medical coverage out of your tiny little baby paychecks. 9/ 24 hour shifts a month. That is less than $40,000.00 a year folks...minus the health care premiums. How many guys in their 30s can raise a family on that? Ann Arbor is officially one of the lowest paid Fire departments in Michigan. You get what you pay for Ann Arbor.....Young, Poor Firefighters who are desperately trying to get into a real department that pays a living wage so they can pay the bills and not live in squalor. Seriously, a city as affluent as AA should be ashamed, and afraid. Turnover will be HUGE!
Romie
Sat, Aug 25, 2012 : 12:43 a.m.
BTW: MUCH poorer cities hire in at a lot more than $38,000 a year and no retirement medical, not to mention the ridiculous out of pocket cost to have medical insurance for your family. Did I once hear someone complain about a $400 annual food allowance on here? HA! A part time FF in Northville makes $21 an hour....same in Plymouth....Farmington Hills- $17 an hour....Novi- $19 an hour. These are Part Timers! I'm glad I'm not a Fireman, and Glad I don't live in Ann Arbor. All that stress training to save lives and risk your own for $38,000 a year? Better off flipping burgers for $35,000.00....with better medical.
Alan Goldsmith
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 12:11 p.m.
The Council vote on this needs to take place AFTER the November election and after the new members of Council have taken office. AND not be decided by the Mayor and his current puppets in office.
Alan Goldsmith
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 12:09 p.m.
The important thing is we make sure the Packard/Stadium station is reopened so Margie Teall and the Mayor's neighborhood of Burns Park is safe and sound.
LXIX
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 11:06 a.m.
If the Art fund diverts about $400K each year, and $600k federal grant money employs 3 firefighters, then $400k art fund money ought support at least 2 permanent works of art. I think the styke is "Realism" or maybe its "Living Art". Install the 2 permanent pieces into at least one of the firehouses slated for closure to keep it open. Yearly maintenace costs for the new art works might require poor Mr. Blinky to be shut down for awhile but then he has gotten used to that.
motorcycleminer
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 10:38 a.m.
Years ago it used to be the Dexter volunteer fire deptartment that held the title " haven't lost a basement yet "....looks like Ann Arbor is trying hard to gain that title....
badge823
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 6:07 a.m.
Take the money from the "Art Fund" and hire some firefighters! And if you say we "can't" use art money for anything else because bblah blah blah ... CHANGE IT Dummies! Take care of the basics , police, fire, streets and water. Times are tough. There is NO common sense on City Council!
Blue1997
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 4:45 a.m.
I know times are tough, really and cities are struggling for money, but this is a bad, bad situation. I am not saying that there shouldn't be give and take from both sides of the table but in the end with the closings someone is going to get hurt or killed. Fire at Maple/Miller how long before you can get a truck there...... Scio may be the closest Mutual aid!
Peregrine
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 5:07 a.m.
Maple & Miller is just barely outside (by somewhere b/w 0.5 blocks and 1 block) of the 4-firefighter, 4-minute boundary under both the 5-station plan and the 3-station plan. Either way, to get 4 people there, the truck from downtown (station #1) needs to arrive. See the light blue areas on pages 8 and 9 of Hubbard's plan here: http://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=1822651&GUID=58A6A5F8-FE77-41BE-B89D-28F1A9B0F3FB .
martini man
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 2:37 a.m.
One of the reasons the powers that be want to cut fire and police, is to scare people into wanting to pay higher taxes. This stupid art tax, if approved, and I am sure a myriad of other goofy taxes will still remain in effect. Now ....IF the City Council says that response time will not be affected , it means that the extra police and fire fighters were never needed in the first place. However, I would rather see extra fire and police instead of special PC committees to study Gawd knows what. There will always be committees and staff paid for by the taxpayer's dime, to study all those whacked out situations prevailing in the City. Ann Arbor used to be cool ..now it's just another pathetic mess.
Dog Guy
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
"One of the reasons the powers that be want to cut fire and police, is to scare people into wanting to pay higher taxes." Yes, martini man, your definitive comment bears repeating: "One of the reasons the powers that be want to cut fire and police, is to scare people into wanting to pay higher taxes."
LXIX
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 1:52 a.m.
Now, the public shouldn't worry about too much about Mr. Blinky the art stick. If he works he won't catch on fire with all that water. If not, he is closer than anyone elst to an open firehouse.
Linda Peck
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
"Mr Blinky" Love this! Now I know how to call the thing.
Linda Peck
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.
It sounds like the public demonstration of the Jackson Road 4 to 3 lane presentation - an information show. We will have no say in this outcome but it will be forced on us. Proximity is everything when it comes to fires.
Domey
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
This news comes within hours of the news that an art tax proposal will be on the November ballot. The problem I see is this: Who would extinguish our art, if it were to catch fire?
PrevoTownie
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 11:57 p.m.
"Hubbard repeatedly has pointed out the Occupational Safety and Health Association has a "two-in/two-out law," which requires at least four personnel on scene before anyone can enter a burning building." From a clarification document presented by the IAFF(International Assoc. of Fire Fighters)& IAFC(International Assoc. of Fire Chiefs) "15. Does OSHA recognize any exceptions to this regulation? OSHA regulations recognize deviations to regulations in an emergency operation where immediate action is necessary to save a life. For fire department employers, initial attack operations must be organized to ensure that adequate personnel are at the emergency scene prior to any interior attack at a structural fire. If initial attack personnel find a known life- hazard situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life, deviation from the two-in/two-out standard may be permitted, as an exception to the fire department's organizational plan." http://www.iaff.org/hs/PDF/2in2out.pdf
PrevoTownie
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
Absolutely Peregrine you are correct. The fact is the fire department does much more than fight fires that will save lives. I have looked at his proposal, he is banking on the past statistics of previous fires. What that does is endanger the lives of the citizens of Ann Arbor that live in those areas that do not fall within his magical zone who also pay taxes and should be afforded that service. Also as I have stated before there is alot of preparing for fire attack and rescue that a crew of 3 can do while waiting for the additional firefighters to make an "OSHA correct" attack of the fire. Hoselines can be stretched, water supply secured, etc. If you have to, limit the number of personnel that can be off or shut down stations when needed, but don't close them all together. Ultimately you should supply the appropriate number of firefighters to perform the saving of lives that is the goal.
Peregrine
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 3:22 a.m.
That's pretty selective. Why didn't you include the next paragraph? "However, such deviations from the regulations must be exceptions and not defacto standard practices. In fact, OSHA may still issue "de minimis" citations for such deviations from the standard, meaning that the citation will not require monetary penalties or corrective action. The exception is for a known life rescue only, not for standard search and rescue activities. When the exception becomes the practice, OSHA citations are authorized. [29 CFR 1910.134(g)(4)(Note 2)]" So first, it would be a violation of OSHA for not following a 2-in, 2-out as standard practice. Second, it does not say that deviation from the standard must be, only that it may be permitted. Third, and most important, is that what if the firefighters' only way of knowing if one or more people are inside is if they find those people. The fact is, preserving life is more important than preserving structures and property. And given current and near-future personnel constraints, the 3-station model will protect more Ann Arbor lives than the current 5-station model. If you want to know the facts, look at the areas in light blue on the maps on pages 8 and 9 of Chief Hubbard's proposal, which you can download from http://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=1822651&GUID=58A6A5F8-FE77-41BE-B89D-28F1A9B0F3FB . The light blue areas show where, within four minutes of leaving the station, four firefighters can be on the scene, with two ready to get inside your home (or other building) and find people to save.
PrevoTownie
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 11:59 p.m.
Want to save a life, leave the stations open.
LXIX
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
Complaints made in this forum or write to your favorite ward keeper. I see nothing about being allowed to publically gripe at these meetings - "Ann Arbor officials intend to give citizens the opportunity to hear more about the proposal and ask specific questions pertaining to fire suppression coverage".
Ron Granger
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 11:26 p.m.
Must we go in person? Can't we just complain in the forum?
mixmaster
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 12:13 a.m.
I'm going to complain in the shower.