Union City Fire Station 30 Closes Wednesday

UNION CITY, CA — Despite an online petition effort led by the local firefighters union, Union City will officially close fire station 30 on Wednesday. The city council voted for the closure last summer to save money.

Sean Burrows of the firefighters union called the closure a "dangerous decision." In a press release issued on Saturday, Burrows said, "The decision to close Station 30 is a disaster waiting to happen, and it does not have to be this way. We urge all Union City citizens to contact the mayor and city council and demand Station 30 remains up and running."

On Monday the city responded, calling the decision a "difficult issue" that was carefully researched. Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci said in a press release, "We are indebted to the firefighters for keeping our residents safe during medical and fire emergencies; however, the City Council’s job is to be responsible fiscal agents of City resources. We have been examining all city services in the last year to understand where we can be more efficient. Changes are being made citywide, not just with the Fire Department. The reality is that Fire Station 30 was underutilized at a high cost to residents. We are confident that we made a decision that was in the community’s best interest. Our attention now is shifting. Union City is excited to be participating in an important discussion with emergency medical service professionals from around Alameda County regarding how we can set up a service model that actually meets the growing medical needs of our community at a more affordable cost.”

The debate has spilled onto Patch's Neighbor Post page, where voters are wondering if the passage of Measure U would keep the fire station open. It will not.

Burrows notes that two elementary schools, Pioneer and Delaine Eastin, are within the Station 30 service area.

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