As the city’s Fire Department works through the challenge of maintaining its vehicles, it will close Station 1 to 24/7 call coverage starting at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9.
The station has housed fire fighters since June of 2014. Before that time, it was closed to 24/7 call coverage for about eight years.
Station 1, 195 E. Michigan Ave., still will house the department’s administrative offices, and staff will attend training sessions there. When crews are there training, they will respond to calls in the area. The rest will be handled by Station 3 on Cliff Street, said Fire Chief David Schmaltz.
The change follows a fire engine roll-over accident last winter and the failings of several other vehicles, which resulted in the city borrowing a vehicle from Kalamazoo. That vehicle will be returned in the coming months as the city takes delivery of a new engine and new ladder truck, the latter approved at the Jan. 3 City Commission meeting.
“This is the best solution,” Schmaltz said of removing Station 1 from constant call coverage. “And residents should feel confident that our staff will respond to calls as quickly as possible; this change will not affect that.”
Two to five fire fighters currently cover Station 1, most often covering medical calls, and will move to other stations. The city staffs seven fire stations across the city, with one on W.K. Kellogg Airport grounds.