After six months of private meetings with council members, San Mateo firefighters publicly aired their frustration over the city's reluctance to reinstate full-time service at its downtown station.
"I think it's time to reevaluate this," said Ed Hawkins, president of the San Mateo County Firefighters Association. "Challenge staff to think outside the box."
Hawkins said he regretted having to address the council publicly when most problems can be solved with friendly conversations. However, frustrated San Mateo firefighters urged him to address the council last night before it approved next year's budget. At least 15 firefighters attended the council meeting.
Last year, the council approved a budget that included the "brownout" of Station 21 downtown. A "brownout" means the station is still open but one vehicle and the firefighters staffing it are out of service. Engine 21 is out of service every weekday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., on weekends and during holidays. Ladder Truck 21 and the firefighters staffing it are always in service.
The closure is adding undue stress to firefighters and it's unfair to taxpayers, Hawkins told the council.
Earlier this year, firefighters averted a deadly situation when a crew had to respond from 16th Avenue to Peninsula Avenue on a report of a drowning baby. It took firefighters more than seven minutes to respond to the mid-day call.
San Mateo has a policy of making it to emergency calls in under seven minutes, Hawkins said.
"It was a near miss, but we got lucky," Hawkins said.
There are currently three vacant captain positions and three vacant firefighters positions. Hawkins said there is also a vacant deputy chief position with a salary and benefits totaling $200,000.
On some evenings, the engine has to be out of commission simply because the department is short one firefighter.
With the absence of Engine 21, the department is forced to rely on neighboring cities to respond to calls. However, other cities have made similar cost-cutting measures that decreases the number of firefighters ready to respond at any given moment.
The council did not comment on the statement, but Hawkins said the issue will arise again at the next round of budget planning in about six months.
Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.
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