According to a 2004 report from the Board of Supervisors (see page 9 of the PDF), Outer Richmond firehouse 34 has been labeled a “low-volume” station and may face temporary closures to help the city rein in its budget. Station 34 is located at 499 41st Avenue (pictured at right).
The report states that the firehouse, along with four others in the Sunset, St. Francis Wood and Potrero Hill, only receives an average of three emergency responses per day. It also lists three fire stations elsewhere in the city that average only two calls per day.
The report goes onto propose that the city either close one of the low-volume firehouses altogether, or that three of the eight be closed for four months out of the year or all eight be closed for 6 weeks of the year. The report then states that “the areas served by these stations are within rapid travel time distance of each other and of nearby other stations”.
Worst case, the Outer Richmond station would close altogether, or be closed for 6 weeks or up to 4 months out of the year. This would mean the emergency responses would fall on the Inner Richmond
firehouse on 12th Avenue or to nearby Sunset District firehouses.
Unfortunately this is just adds more fuel to the already raging fires between the SF firefighters and the SF Board of Supervisors. The latest from SF Weekly.
Sarah B.
[Via SFAppeal]
Although this station has low call numbers the fact it houses the surf rescue unit may be its saving grace. This station along with others DO face a brownout due to the current budget mess. This will mean that of our stations in the outer Richmond – 31 near Park Presidio/Geary, 14 at 26th & Geary and station 34 face rolling brownouts. Of the many budget angles not getting any publicity is the high probablilty fire insurance rates will go up as response times will be longer and more damage will occur. The city may also face lawsuits becuase it will not meet the national standard average.Chicago has had over $200 million paid out becuase of delays and the city leaders who made the decisions have also been sued.