Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan said early indications show that the controversial closure of the North Central Fire Station hasn't caused fire response times to get longer.
In fact, he said, statistics suggest firefighters are getting to the scene quicker.
In the first four months of 2011, it took firefighters stationed at North Central, 201 Dewberry Ave., an average of 6 minutes and 37 seconds to respond to a call. After relocating this year with firefighters at Lincoln Fire Station on Easton Avenue, it took firefighters there an average of 6 minutes and 12 seconds to respond in the first four months of the year.
The Lincoln station is now the fire station for both Engine No. 7, formerly at North Central, and Engine No. 5, which was originally stationed at Lincoln.
"The results show not only is the response time acceptable, but it has improved," Callahan said.
And there's more, Callahan said.
The arrival of the backup engine to calls got even better in the section of the city covered by Lincoln -- roughly the area east of Linden . The response time of the second engine arriving in 2011 was 9 minutes and 34 seconds; this year, it's 6 minutes and 59 seconds.
That's because the second engine is generally coming from the same fire station. In the past, a backup engine had to drive from another fire station.
Deputy Chief Robert Novatnack underscored the importance of the response time of the second engine. He said having a second engine there quickly increases safety. Firefighting, he said, is about teamwork.
He said part of the reason for better response times is that both engines now use Easton Avenue and Stefko Boulevard -- two wide roads with quick access to most areas of the district.
The statistics measured 291 incidents, including 32 emergency medical services calls, for Engine No. 5 and 223 incidents, including 84 EMS calls, for Engine 7.
David Saltzer, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 735, said he had not seen the statistics and could not comment. Saltzer had spoken against closing Dewberry station.
Councilman David DiGiacinto, who also questioned Dewberry's closure, said more information than four months of statistics is needed to judge the success of the transition. He would like to see the types of calls the firefighters were responding to, for example.
"If the statistics hold true, it sounds promising," he said, "but I would like to see a longer period of time."
The closure of the Dewberry station prompted backlash from firefighters who were regularly attending council meetings and budget hearings last year to protest the closure. While city officials pointed out that there have been only four structure fires a year in the North Central's district, firefighters argued the department hit a record 4,200 calls for other types of incidents, including water rescues and EMS.
The Dewberry station is being converted to a second station for Emergency Management Services.
Meanwhile, $106,000 worth of renovations have been done on Lincoln Fire Station.
The mayor said the city will be implementing other changes as well, calling in off-duty firefighters when calls reach a second-alarm. Statistics show that happens 20-25 times a year.
Copyright 2012 - The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
