The City of Alameda is proposing to close a fire truck in the very near future. The proposal from the City Manager is to have \"rotating closures\" of City of Alameda two fire trucks citywide whenever there is an overtime need. This is what was presented to the City Council at the June 5th, 2008 City Council Budget Meeting. How often would this rotating fire company closure occur Nearly daily! This overtime need is primarily caused by the city\'s decision to continue freezing / not funding eight firefighter positions. This practice has continued since 2004 and has created out-of-control overtime costs. Will the closure be in your neighborhood when you need the fire department Who knows!! Ask the City Manager. The City of Alameda Fire Department had staffed five engines and two ladder trucks since the 1920\'s. The fire department began providing ambulance transport service in 1984. One fire engine was cut in 1993 from the Bay Farm Island Fire Station and then reopened and moved to the far west end of the city in 1997 with the acquisition of the former Alameda Naval Air Station. The city grew by three square miles and added only one fire engine. To date, the fire engine cut back in 1993 from Bay Farm Island was never reopened within the former city boundary. Today\'s Alameda Fire Department deploys 27 firefighters who staff five fire engines, two ladder trucks and three ambulances 24 hours a day, year-round. The fire department also cross-staffs a fire boat, a water rescue boat and a technical rescue vehicle. These fire apparatus respond to an increasing number of calls annually, with a record 6,108 responses in 2006. The department is on pace for 6,200 this year. All of this service is absolutely dependant on having enough people on duty. 27 firefighters is the bare minimum needed to provide you safe and efficient customer service. Any less will jeopardize the safety of the citizens and your firefighters. What can you do Sign this petition to tell our City\'s Council Members that we do not want any of our local fire companies closed at any time. Tell them to not let the politics of the moment jeopardize our safety. Demand that our safety and welfare not be used as a political tool. The budget hearing is supposed to take place on June 17th. However, the potential for more council meetings to approve the budget may occur before the end of the month. So please do not delay your action. Thank you!

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