Crime & Safety

City Council Fuels Fire Department Merger

Millbrae and Burlingame to consolidate stations.

City council members on Tuesday unanimously approved initiating a fire station merger between the Millbrae Fire Department and Central County Fire.

Temporarily, the Millbrae Fire Department and Central County Fire, which represents Burlingame and Hillsborough, will close two stations in the hills, Station 35 and 38, respectively, and will build a new one at Trousdale and Hunt Drive in Burlingame. The Millbrae Fire Department estimates an annual savings of $374,520 if the station closure becomes permanent.

“The pilot program will allow the agency to demonstrate whether a station reduction will maintain acceptable response times,” said Fire Chief Dennis Haag. 

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Haag assured that station closure would not affect the level of service, but may warrant operation of a flex staff engine out of Millbrae’s downtown station.

The 5-0 vote Tuesday resulted from 4 years of discussion that included 15 possible cost-saving scenarios between the San Bruno, Millbrae and Central County Fire agencies. If a personnel and station merger did occur, Millbrae would contribute 20 percent of costs, while San Bruno and Central County Fire would provide 30 and 50 percent, respectively. 

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Although no personnel would be fired, the departments will not hire a new firefighter when one leaves. 

“We discussed whether we move forward with full consolidation or explore a federation model,” said Burlingame City Manager Jim Nantell.

North County Fire, encompassing Brisbane, Pacifica and Daly City, uses a federation model. That model shares administration duties but allows each city to retain its own firefighters.

Hillsborough and San Bruno this week also agreed to move forward with the merger.

“As long as service does not deter, we approve,” said San Bruno Councilman Ken Ibarra.

“September was a testament to the power of mutual aid,” he said referring to the Crestmoor explosion.

Although officials set no definitive timeframe, they estimate the station consolidation to occur in about 60 days. 


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