Firefighters are pushing back against the possible closure of one of Petersburg’s four fire stations, calling it a threat to public safety that eventually will cost lives.
“The impact of staffing reduction and a proposed station closure would reduce the department of the firefighting force by approximately 25 percent,” said Andrew Pantelis, district vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, during a news conference Thursday in Petersburg.
“Fast response, quick arrival and rapid fire attack are vital to rescuing fire victims and preventing the spread of fire in single-family homes,” Pantelis said.
As early as next Tuesday, the Petersburg City Council could decide the fate of a fire station that would be closed by the end of September, if the council follows a consulting firm’s recommendation to close a station to help reduce the city’s $12 million budget deficit.