Union City Fires, Shootings Highlight Station 30 Closure Concerns

UNION CITY, CA — Union City has seen its share of emergencies this month. November began with a series of brush fires in the hills, followed by house fires, and two double shootings that resulted in two injuries and two deaths. The one constant in all of that news was the Alameda County Fire Department. Firefighters and paramedics on fire trucks responded to the fires, shootings, traffic accidents, heart attacks and other medical emergencies.

In addition, state mutual aid required that Alameda County firefighters and equipment be deployed to locations elsewhere in the Bay Area for wildfires, and firefighters staged in strategic sites around the East Bay during Fire Weather Alerts.

All of that activity highlights concerns for opponents of a plan to close Union City's Fire Station 30.

Union City is facing a $7 million budget gap over the next two years. Cost-saving measures include cutting hours at the Holly Community Center, the Ruggieri Senior Center, the Kennedy Youth Center, the Mark Green Sports Center and the Alameda County Library — all having a direct impact on residents.

The city also eliminated an unfilled park maintenance position.

But the biggest decision, and arguably the most controversial, is to close Fire Station 30.

The city paid a consulting firm, the Center for Public Safety Management, to come up with a way to reduce the cost of fire services. It produced a report that recommended closing the station at a savings of about $3.2 million each year. Station 30 responds to the fewest calls in Union City each year.

In July, the city council voted 4-1 to close the fire station. At the time, the city argued that about 20 percent of Station 30 responses were to Newark.

Patch requested official reports from the Alameda County Fire Department showing responses by firefighters in Union City. The department responded quickly and thoroughly to our request.

The reports cover all local responses from July 15 to November 17, 2019. During that time, Union City firefighters from all stations made 85 responses to calls in Newark. The flip side: Newark firefighters made 87 responses to calls in Union City. Newark firefighters responded to Union City fires, motor vehicle accidents, rescues, emergency medical situations and other calls.

Fire Chief David Rocha calls the aid between the two cities "equitable."

Here are the details:

Union City calls to Newark:

• Structure fires: 6
• Motor vehicle crashes: 13
• Emergency medical responses/rescues: 9
• All other types: 54
• The other calls were canceled at the scene or while en route

Newark calls to Union City:

• Structure fires: 12
• Motor vehicle crashes: 4
• Emergency medical responses/rescues: 11
• All other types: 43
• The other calls were canceled at the scene or while en route

Construction is underway on new homes and businesses in Union City. With 4,500 calls for service to the fire department already each year, the addition of residents, businesses and traffic would increase the total calls for help.

Following the vote to close Fire Station 30, an effort was undertaken to convince the city to reverse course. A website was launched, Keep Union City Safe.

The site reminds taxpayers about Measure QQ, a Public Safety Parcel Tax. According to the site, "It was passed in the early 2000’s and has been reauthorized multiple times including in 2016. This tax measure ensured fire stations will remain open if the citizens agree to pass it. Station 30’s closure means the city will not meet its obligation under Measure QQ, essentially breaking its promise to voters."

When asked about the website in September, the city dismissed it as a partisan effort by the firefighters union to keep the station open. The city told Patch, "We have diligently answered every email and phone call that has come into us. We understand that Alameda County Firefighters Local 55 has a special interest in seeking support for policies that benefit the entire county. However, our residents are coming to understand that the city has an obligation to make fiscally responsible choices that are in the best interest of the community."

Following the vote to close Station 30, the City Council directed staff to coordinate with the cities of Newark, Hayward and Fremont to explore the option of potentially reopening the fire station in the future as a part of a shared services model.

Related Stories:

• Union City Fire Station May Close
• City Council Votes To Close Fire Station: Union City
• Petition Started To Keep Fire Station 30 Open
• Library, Community Center Hours Cut In Union City
• No Arrests In Union City Double Homicide
• Two People Shot In Union City Wednesday
• Fire Damages Union City Home
• Dog Rescued From Fire In Union City
• Arson Suspect Arrested In Union City, Hayward Hills Fires
• Pedestrian Injured In Union City Hit-And-Run