HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail - Fire Station Restructure Discussion from Catie and Jim Bishop Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Clerk of the Board
Sent: Monday,April 24, 2017 2:32 PM
To: Menchaca, Clarissa
Subject: FW: Fire services restructure discussion
Attachments: Fire services BoS input 25apr17.docx
From: Catie &Jim
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2017 2:32:22 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US &Canada)
To: Clerk of the Board
Subject: Fire services restructure discussion
Assistant Cleric Butte BOS
Attached is written comment regarding Item #5.09, Fire Services Restructure, BOS Meeting
Agenda 25 April 2017. Please provide that input to the Supervisors before the meeting. Also, I'd
like to register to make public comment on that item at the meeting.
Thank you, Jim and Catie Bishop
i
Butte County Board of Supervisors 24 April 2017
County Center Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
Input to the Board of Supervisors Meeting, April 25'h, 2017
Jim and Catie Bishop, 1144 Mt. Ida Road, Oroville, CA
Regarding: l=ire Services Restructure
Almost all of the analysis of the proposed changes to Butte County fire services focusses on the
impacts on initial response times. That is of course very important. However, any reductions in staffing
or stations also reduces the overall strength of the fire department, and that has important
consequences, ultimately on response to and performance at emergencies. The consequences of
overall reductions include:
1. Reduced training delivery. Training is critical to the performance of the fire service, given that the
performance must be excellent even on things not encountered routinely. Less staffing means more
difficulty in providing training due to reduced ability to cover behind trainees. An example is that of
live-fire training which is very valuable, but requires the departmental depth to commit several engine
crews to the training and to cover behind them.
2. Lower move-up-and-cover capacity, meaning more times when response to a second or third
incident is delayed. Multiple simultaneous incidents is common and will only grow more so.
3. Lack of capacity to mobilize close-enough resources soon enough to major emergencies. Such
Incidents have the potential to be very damaging and very costly if not quickly controlled.
Ultimately fires will escape that could have been contained, medical responses will not succeed that
could have, and large emergencies will overwhelm local resources. All such response shortfalls would
have large dollar costs that exceed the original savings in reduced staffing and stations, and also large
costs in human losses and suffering. In short, it is unwise to reduce the overall capacity of a fire
department which will only see incident loads increase, and to not consider it more completely in
evaluating the options.
Sincerely,
Signed:Juni Er CcEVev B%hap