Analysis of the economics of a proposal to consolidate the Arcadia Fire Department into the Los Angeles County Fire Protection District found that the projected savings weren't there.
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.
During last Tuesday's City Council meeting, Council member Robert Harbicht accused Arcadia Firefighters of opposing April's Measure A in order to hurt the city's financial position to the extent that the city consolidates the Fire Department with Los Angeles County.
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.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant has voided a $30 million contract that Los Angeles County awarded to L.N. Curtis and Sons for fire equipment. Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment sued the city and county of Los Angeles, claiming the selection process used to award the contract was improperly handled and the judge agreed. The actual funding for the contract came from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The judge's orders require the county to either restart the bidding process or re-evaluate all the bids properly.
A $30 million plan to provide standardized breathing equipment for every fire department in Los Angeles County has been suspended after a lawsuit alleged the contract process was mishandled and firefighters complained about the quality of the equipment. Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment is suing the city and county of Los Angeles, contending the contract process was improperly handled in a manner that ignored firefighter input and unfairly favored the winning bidder, L.N. Curtis and sons.
Arcadia Paramedics have been asked to assist in field training of paramedic trainees from PCC. The Fire Chief said that there is great reluctance to do so, but agreed that Arcadia Paramedics received their training from Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Fire Departments and should repay this service by helping new trainees.
Seven firefighters were injured in Arcadia house fire on White Oak Drive. The Arcadia Fire Department (AFD) required assistance from Monrovia, Sierra Madre, El Monte, and Los Angeles County. Six from AFD were treated at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. The seventh firefighter, from Sierra Madre Fire Department, remained hospitalized in stable condition at St. Luke's Hospital in Pasadena. The house sustained extensive loss. Nearby residents wondered if the AFD needed so much help from outside fire departments because of recent cuts to the AFD.
The 76 members of the Arcadia Fire Department raised $14,521 for victims of the Bay Area earthquake by giving up one shift of paid vacation time each. The money will be donated to Santa Cruz County through the Arcadia chapter of the American Red Cross.
Pasadena Fire Department officials spent more than $320,000 to purchase breathing apparatus from distributor L.N. Curtis and Sons, which is at the center of a lawsuit filed by rival equipment company, Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment against the city and county of Los Angeles. 57 self contained breathing apparatus remain unused at Pasadena Fire Station 34 pending a judge's ruling next month.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum will transfer from the financially strapped Los Angeles County Department of Arboreta and Botanica to the larger Department of Parks and Recreation on January 1, 1993.