What is happening to Fire Station 30?

The City will be closing Fire Station 30 - located on Eastin Court and operated by the Alameda County Fire Department. A nationally known public safety expert spent months examining calls for service data from each of the four fire stations in Union City. A major finding was that Fire Station 30 is handling on overage less than 1.5 calls per day with many responses by the firefighters serving Newark residents, not Union City residents. This is needlessly costing Union City residents over $3 million a year. 

Why is the City closing Fire Station 30?

We take seriously living within our means at City Hall. We appreciate the high quality services provided to residents by the Alameda County Fire Department; however, we simply cannot spend high public funds when data proves that Fire Station 30 is underused.  The City did not take this action lightly. It was a difficult decision to make. However, the job of the City Council is to be responsible fiscal stewards of public funds ensuring they are spent in the most effective and cost-efficient way. 

Will this impact public safety?

No it will not. The independent study by a nationally known public safety expert shows that the three remaining fire stations staffed with nine firefighters on each shift can provide the right level of service for residents. The City is working closely with the Alameda County Fire Department to carry out a closure plan that will ensure medical and emergency response is not compromised.  

Resources

• Staff Report on Fire Services Analysis & Data on Fire Station 30
• Independent Analysis by Center for Public Safety Management
• Preliminary Top-Level Community Survey Results about Fire Station Closure
• Alameda County Fire Department Analysis of Fire Station Closure
• Link to City Council meeting