Oakland could soon have 7 fire stations closed
OAKLAND, Calif. – Two Oakland fire stations closed on Monday in an effort to help balance the city’s budget.
This is a temporary closure that’s supposed to last six months for Station 28 on Grass Valley Road and Station 25 on Butters Drive.
Because these stations are being “browned out,” it means they will be empty with nobody answering calls for help.
Station 10, which is already closed for renovations, will remain closed as well because of the cuts.
Oakland plans to revisit the issue in early February and close four more stations, which would bring the total to seven.
Seth Olyer, president of the Oakland Firefighters Union Local 55, said that the decision to close these stations is because city leaders decided it’s not technically fire season right now.
But, he said “the reality is that, unfortunately, there is no good fire station to close. It’s all about response time.”
The union held a news conference on Monday, trying to get the city to reverse its decision.
