Holiday Staffing of Fire Stations Urged

Deciding that closing fire stations for the holidays is not a good idea, Burbank City Council members on Thursday called for full staffing every day of the year.

Council members stepped in after a home burned Dec. 26, sustaining $230,000 in damage, while the nearest fire station was closed.

Burbank Fire Chief Mike Davis had ordered the 24-hour closure to save money, citing overtime costs and the Christmas vacation schedule for firefighters. Davis could have ordered firefighters to staff the station, but chose not to do so.

It took only about 60 to 90 seconds longer for the firefighters who did answer the call to reach the home, Davis stated in a memo on the incident. Davis said the damage was not compounded by the later response.

The fire started about 4:50 a.m. Dec. 26 at a home in the 900 block of Groton Drive, when a wooden terrarium caught fire and ignited a Christmas tree.

The owner tried to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher, and called 911 only after the fire was out of control, according to the memo.

Neither Davis or the homeowner could be reached for comment.