Untitled1



		SUMMIT Foundation 6530 15th Avenue North East Seattle, Washington 98115 (206) 525-3097 http://www.ndcrt.org/SUMMIT/ August 11, 1998 Mayor Paul Schell City of Seattle 600 4th Avenue Seattle, Washington 98104 Dear Mayor Schell, As in the past, I come to you with a concern regarding the fire service in Seattle. We hear rumblings of the planned closure of fire stations in the City. Specifically, Station 21 and Station 27 have been mentioned. In the event you are unaware, Station 27 is located directly to the north of the King County Municipal Airport - also known as Boeing Field. Station 21 is located in the Greenwood area. From our research, there are areas within the city's jurisdiction which currently lack adequate fire protection. Specifically mentioned was the south end of West Seattle and areas around Magnolia. Rumor has it that even the Fire Chief's own home lacks adequate coverage. This information comes from a recent reallocation study which has been taking place within the fire department. Further, we are aware of the requirements to increase the staffing levels on engine companies to bring the city into compliance with new regulations. This will, obviously, have a substantial impact on the department's budget. In the event this is an accurate representation of the facts, we stand concerned. Why would we elect to close stations and redeploy that manpower to fulfill the staffing requirements? If we're already short on staffing in the city in various areas, wouldn't this indicate that the manpower has been stretched to the limit for some time? How can we afford to reduce coverage further, jeopardizing Georgetown and Greenwood? Granting that there are nearby stations which could pick up these coverage areas, one must ask why this redeployment wasn't done in the past to cover under-protected areas of the city. We think the answer is simple: it was a poor idea in the past and it's a poor idea now. The station closest to 27 happens to be on the other side of a drawbridge. When this bridge is up, the engine is unable to respond in a timely manner. It would appear that we're shorting citizens of much needed fire protection. For many years, the city has failed to provide adequate funding for the fire department. Yearly budget increases have even failed to keep up with the rising costs associated with the department. This has forced staffing down, in an attempt to maintain an even keel. Why are we consistently doing this to an organization WE all rely on? What's going to happen when a member of our family needs medical attention and the fire department's well has run dry? Or when a business in the city is on fire and there aren't enough units available to adequately fight the blaze? Worse yet, what happens when that 'big-one' hits and we've exhausted our resources in the first hour? Finally, what happens when our business insurance increases because we lack adequate fire coverage in the city? A 20% increase in rates is a tough pill to swallow! In the end, we believe that the Seattle Fire Department should be provided the resources it needs -- WITHOUT having to make additional and exceptional cuts. Since you attended the Medic One Levy celebration, we conclude that you value the job these men and women do. If so, please examine this situation and help Chief Sewell and the City Council make the 'right' decision. It would be a tragedy it we allow this madness to continue. Bob Nelson, Executive Chair SUMMIT Foundation

	Building the Finest Fire Service in the World - Right in Our Own Back Yard