PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
FIRE RESTRUCTURE PROPOSAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS SCHEDULED
ANN ARBOR, Mich., August 20, 2012 — In March, Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard presented a Fire Department restructuring proposal to City Council, which would position the department to operate out of three fire stations. One station would be located on the north side of the city (Station 5), one on the south side of the city (Station 2) and one in downtown Ann Arbor (Station 1).
However, before this proposal is considered further, community meetings have been scheduled in each of the five wards to give citizens the opportunity to hear more about the fire restructure proposal and ask specific questions pertaining to fire suppression coverage.
Community Meeting Opportunities in September
- Tuesday, Sept. 18, 6 – 8 p.m., Cobblestone Farm (2781 Packard)
- Wednesday, Sept. 19, 6 – 8 p.m., Ann Arbor Senior Center (1320 Baldwin Ave.)
- Thursday, Sept. 20, 6 – 8 p.m., Downtown Ann Arbor Library Branch (343 S. Fifth Ave.), Conference Room A
- Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6 – 8 p.m. Traverwood Ann Arbor Library Branch (3333 Traverwood Drive), Program Room
- Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6 – 8 p.m., Community Television Network, 2805 S. Industrial, Suite 200. This meeting will be taped and replayed on CTN Channel 19 and available online to replay at http://a2cititv.pegcentral.com/.
- Thursday, Sept. 27, 6 - 8 p.m., Lawton Ann Arbor Public School, Auditorium, 2250 S. Seventh St.
Fire Restructure Proposal Background
The Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) has a two-in/two-out law, which requires at least four firefighters on scene before anyone can enter a burning building. The current AAFD response model includes three people staffed at each station and, therefore, two trucks have to be on-scene before firefighters can enter a burning building. The proposed plan to consolidate fire stations would enable the AAFD to better meet National Fire Protection Association response guidelines because four firefighters would be on duty at each of the three stations vs. the current model that only allows for three firefighters on duty at each station.
In addition to attending a community meeting, there are several options to view the fire restructure proposal online:
1. Watch Chief Hubbard’s Work Session presentation to City Council at http://a2govtv.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=563ceb312f4d1f3c2a04f15bf43fd751
2. Watch an interview of Chief Hubbard on CTN’s “Conversations” program http://a2cititv.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=a09fa8367fb8374b35b04a7e5d8e523a
3. After September 26, an online replay of the Fire Restructure Proposal meeting hosted at CTN will be available at http://a2cititv.pegcentral.com/.
# # # # #