The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
MONTEBELLO, Calif. — Fire Department response times have slowed, and the chief said it could be because budgetary constraints have forced a station closure on the city’s west side.
According to the Verdugo Communication System’s quarterly analysis, Montebello Fire in April, May and June had the slowest average responses of the system’s 11 departments, and only arrived on-scene in 5 minutes or fewer 41 percent of the time.
While the ten other departments in the dispatching system had average response times of 4 minutes and 23 seconds Montebello averaged 5 minutes and 38 seconds, according to Verdugo System analysts.
“I had a company out of service a lot and whenever there’s a company out of service, that means the other ones are going further and running more calls,” said Montebello Interim Fire Chief Jim Ballard. “I can’t say it’s the reason, but I can certainly say it’s a factor.”
Facing a $4 million general fund shortfall, Montebello officials cut firefighter overtime, and Station 57 was out of service for part of May and June.
The station off Beverly Boulevard and Garfield Avenue has been used sporadically since July 1, depending on monthly overtime costs, Ballard said.
National guidelines set a goal of arriving at a call within five minutes of dispatch, officials said.
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