Tehachapi News

Letter: Budget cuts to fire services a safety risk

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Did you know that cuts are being made to your fire protection that poses a risk to your safety?

Recently personnel at the Stallion Springs fire station were reduced from three firefighters on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week to two personnel on duty. And the Bear Valley fire station may be next.

County Supervisors think that it is better to reduce personnel in outlying rural stations where back up engines are 15 to 25 minutes, sometimes longer, away.

Instead of in and around the metropolitan Bakersfield area where back up engines are two to five minutes away, not to mention Bakersfield City fire stations that are close to assist. Not only does this endanger the firefighters that do not have enough personnel to assist in emergency situations in these outlying areas, it also endangers the lives of the public, and puts limitations on what those firefighters can do until the next engine arrives 15 to 25 minutes later.

The National Fire Protection Administration Standard 1710 sets forth what the minimum number of personnel per engine should be to safely do the job, the national standard is four personnel per engine.

Going from three to two in Kern County is a step in the wrong direction. The reduction of personnel at the Stallion Springs fire station and possible reduction at the Bear Valley fire station will have an impact on all the citizens of the Tehachapi Valley area. Those stations provide immediate back up to each other as well as the the Tehachapi fire station. This is not only isolated to the Tehachapi Valley area, this is happening in other areas of Kern County.

So if you are worried  about your safety, as I am, let your County Supervisor know before it is too late. Let them know that they should be reducing the personnel in the metropolitan Bakersfield area where there are and abundance of personnel, not in the outlying areas where there are already a limited number of personnel.
Here are some numbers to voice your concern:

Don Maben, Tehachapi office:   823-0164
Mojave office: 824-7000
Bakersfield office: 868-3660
E-mail: district2@co.kern.ca.us
Kern County Fire Dept.: 391-7000

—  Christina Veiga