Firefighter Cutbacks

West Covina FD Leaders Consider Cuts

May 13, 2010

On May 18, 2010 the West Covina City Management is proposing a cut in Fire Department Response Apparatus. They wish to eliminate 1 of 5 Paramedic Engine Companies from service. This reduction will eliminate 6 positions and extend response times. The 4 remaining engine companies will remain at their current staffing levels of 3 personnel [...]

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Apple Valley Fire facing $1 million deficit

April 10, 2010

APPLE VALLEY • The Apple Valley Fire Protection District is looking at ways to close a $1 million budget deficit, with retirement incentives, employee furloughs and more on the table. Officials are hoping these moves will trim enough from the budget to avoid laying off any of the district’s approximately 80 employees, though that possibility [...]

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Apple Valley’s hot topic: Contracting with SBCo Fire

April 10, 2010

APPLE VALLEY • With the Apple Valley Fire Protection District looking to cut costs, one politically sensitive option being floated is the possibility of contracting with San Bernardino County for fire service, as every other Victor Valley city now does. Apple Valley Councilman Rick Roelle, then sitting as mayor, spearheaded a push to look at [...]

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Long Beach Council seeks restorations among cuts

September 23, 2009

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Fewer police officers, higher fees and a reduced firefighting force are among the expected effects of Long Beach’s proposed, and vastly scaled down, city budget on which council members will put the final touches Tuesday. However, after last week’s meeting, some of those cuts will be restored, particularly in public safety [...]

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LAFD Firefighters continue to campaign against service cuts

September 10, 2009

The Los Angeles firefighters’ union renewed its campaign Thursday against the rotating brownouts at city fire stations, delivering hundreds of postcards demanding the restoration of full service. “This is not the time to be cutting fire service,” said Pat McOsker, head of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, during a rally at City Hall. [...]

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LAFD to shut down stations due to $39 million budget deficit

July 22, 2009

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) – Unable to win concessions from the firefighters union, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today approved a plan to reduce the Fire Department’s projected $39 million budget deficit by not staffing several fire companies and ambulances on a rotating basis starting Aug. 6. Villaraigosa called the measures “difficult but necessary.” United Firefighters of Los [...]

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Exclusive: ‘No cuts’ Ohio chief speaks out on dismissal

July 20, 2009

Editor’s Note: Earlier this month, Ohio Fire Chief Donald Barnes was dismissed after balking at orders from his mayor to make a new round of cuts in the fire department’s budget. The Shaker Heights Fire Department had already been forced to shed four firefighters earlier this year. But when Chief Barnes was then told to [...]

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Oakland fire union agrees to contract in face of budget crisis

July 19, 2009

OAKLAND — The union representing Oakland firefighters voted 335-64 in favor of a new contract that will freeze wages and increase the hours firefighters work as the city faces an ongoing financial crisis, the union’s president said this week. The city relied heavily on concessions from city workers to try to balance its budget this [...]

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Rialto Fire Department to get pink slips and possible plans to close Station 202

July 15, 2009

RIALTO – The Fire Department anticipates between six and 15 pink slips will be handed out some time within the next week. City Administrator Henry Garcia on Wednesday informed the department of the move, initiated in the face of a $4.8 million budget shortfall. “I think the economic forecast reflects that fire service agencies (across [...]

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Lodi Fire Staffing Impacts Response

July 15, 2009

LODI, CA – Tuesday was a “brownout” day for the Lodi Fire Department. That meant because of budget issues, staffing wasn’t at 19 or even 16 firefighters. It was at 13. “It’s safe to say we’ve had fewer people that we’ve liked, that’s true,” said interim Fire Chief Kevin Donnelly. Unfortunately on Tuesday, a residential [...]

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