The Arcadia and Monrovia fire departments have merged dispatch services, earning Arcadia $60,000 the first year and $80,000 a year in subsequent years.
The Insurance Services Office, which rates fire departments, awarded the Arcadia Fire Department a "Class One" rating, making them one of only 16 departments in the country with that rating.
City Council will be asked to award a $78,349 contract to Santa Rosa based Special T Fire Equipment for purchase of assorted respiratory protection and air monitoring equipment for use by city firefighters. The apparatus would be paid for by the state under its Homeland Security Grant Program.
A Los Angeles County proposal to take over fire and ambulance service from the Arcadia Fire Department would cost the city as much as $8 million more than present costs over 10 years, according to a city report.
Three firefighters and a fire technician will be laid off February 1 in the latest cost-cutting move in the city's five-year struggle to balance the budget.
Arcadia Fire Department's recent reconfirmation of being a "Class 1" department by the Insurance Services office may result in lower insurance premiums for area businesses.
An apartment fire in Arcadia Wednesday left six people uninjured but looking for shelter. The blaze was reported at about 2:45 p.m. in unit 235 at 425 E. Live Oak.
Fire Chief Michael Lang is leaving Arcadia Fire Department to be Fire Chief at Manhattan Beach. He was with Arcadia Fire Department for 21 years, including 5 as chief. He starts at Manhattan Beach Fire Department on June 21.
A recent audit of fire department response times in 12 cities shows San Marino and Pasadena firefighters were the quickest in responding to emergency calls. The report covered April, May and June. San Marino's and Pasadena's average response times were 4:03 and 4:02, respectively. Arcadia's average, in comparison, was 4:21.
Arcadia City Council on Wednesday called for a study on whether it should contract with Los Angeles County for its fire protection services. The decision came after a marathon 5 1/2 hour session on the budget that attracted more than 400 spectators.
Arcadia Rotary Club collected donations to pay for the Guatemala City Volunteer firefighters to drive a donated firetruck from Arcadia to Santa Cruz del Quiche in Guatemala.