The Palo Alto City Council has unanimously decided to bring back a fire engine to the Mitchell Park fire station to address community concerns over slow response times. This follows a petition with 542 signatures from local residents and a community meeting addressing safety fears. The city will also hire a fire captain and may later expand staffing for an ambulance and engine service. Concerns from firefighters highlight the need for more full-time positions to ensure effective emergency response, especially with the station's reconstruction set for completion in 2027.
"We are not even talking about adding exotic resources; the inaction that we're taking on a regular basis is incredible to me. Do the right thing."
"The LA fires are a reminder that every second really counts," said Councilman Greer Stone before the unanimous vote.
The station is getting rebuilt and will open in early 2027, and the goal is to have both an engine and an ambulance by then, Chief Geo Blackshire said.
Firefighters said manning an ambulance and fire engine at the same time isn't ideal. They want the city to add full-time positions and not mandate overtime.
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