Politics & Government

City Council Punts Possible Fire Dept. Staffing Changes Until June

The Davis City Council is considering reducing the number of firefighters on each fire engine company, from four to three.

After hours of discussion Tuesday night, the Davis City Council voted to wait until it is considering a budget for the next fiscal year to decide whether its fire engines will be staffed with fewer firefighters.

The city council sought to save money by changing the number of firefighters at each station: currently each station has at least four staff members at all times. The proposal being discussed would reduce that number to three people on each engine unit, and added two firefighters to a designated rescue unit at the Fifth Street Station 31.

It would save $360,000 a year. 

Find out what's happening in Daviswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The council's unanimous vote Tuesday will include the discussion in with talks about next year's budget; a decision must be made by June 30, and a formal check-in on the process will be held May 14. The budget is scheduled to first be introduced on April 9.

Interim Fire Chief Scott Kenley said Tuesday night that the proposed change in fire staffing wouldn't affect the department's response to rescuing people trapped in burning buildings, but it could slow the response to fight fires in empty structures.

Find out what's happening in Daviswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Check back with Davis Patch for more on this issue as it develops

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