SUMMIT Foundation
6530 15th Avenue North East
Seattle, Washington 98115
(206) 525-3097
September 25, 1998
Tina Podlodowski, Chair, Public Safety, Health & Technology Committee
City of Seattle
600 4th Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104
Dear Ms. Podlodowski,
Thank you for your recent letter, dated September 8. Your letter indicates that you're interested in ongoing dialog regarding the Seattle Fire Department. As such, this letter is intended to keep this door open.
Considering the recent budget proposal submitted by Chief Sewell, you might imagine that we're very concerned about the future of the department. Although the proposal appears to indicate that the city will benefit from the decommissioning of a couple of engines, to be replaced by aid cars, reality dictates that we are selling the farm. Over the years, we've allowed the closure of a number of stations and the decommissioning of numerous engines. Now, we've reached a point where we lack adequate emergency response coverage and we're considering the closure of additional resources. Regardless of the point of view, what we're really discussing is an increase in response times for fire events.
As you review the budget proposal, you would do well to consider that many of the numbers used to calculate response times and, by extension, resource deployment, are grossly inaccurate. Although it's not widely discussed, the reality is that the times for responses are calculated on the time of the first arriving unit on the scene of an event - not at the time they reach the consumer. As such, it appears that most rigs begin rendering aid within a time frame which skirts the fringes of acceptable response times. Rather, the responses fall far outside the window of acceptability. Further, it is amazing to hear the number of times that the Fire Alarm Center reports that the city is out of medic units.
We recognize that the city feels a need to limit spending, but it appears that the citizens have been paying for adequate fire and life safety protection for many years while the funds have been used for non-emergent purposes. Let's face facts: When the situation gets tough, we expect these men and women to show up and rescue us. Without adequate resources in place, they're not going to be able to meet our demand.
SUMMIT is considering taking drastic actions to stop this madness. I thought it appropriate to discuss our plans with you, in the hope that we might gain your support in our endeavor.
Next February, when the polls open, we'd like to have a referendum or charter amendment on the ballot which would provide for better care of the fire department and the city, as follows.
1. The creation of a Board of Commissioners who would oversee the general operations of the Seattle Fire Department. Comprised of representatives from the various neighborhoods throughout Seattle, these individuals would help establish fire department policies and facilitate their various needs.
Building the Finest Fire Service in the World - Right in Our Own Back Yard