MIAMI LAKES, Fla. (WSVN) — In order to save money, Miami-Dade fire houses will be closing periodically. The cuts may affect emergency response times across the county.
Budget cuts have forced five Miami-Dade Fire stations to cease operations for a day.
Starting at 7 a.m. Monday, stations in Miami Lakes, Miami Shores, Miami Gardens, West Sunset and Modello shut down for 24 hours.
The move, called a brown out, is meant to reduce overtime expenses. It’s a compromise after county commissioners voted last week to keep the property tax rate flat, as recommended by County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. This means the department would not see millions in additional funding and more than 140 firefighters could lose their jobs.
Miami-Dade County resident Michael Rosenberg said, “I strongly urge everyone that is watching this to call the mayor’s office and tell them to open the fire stations, honor the votes.”
Rowan Taylor, president at Local 1403 Union, said, “The difference between life and death is seconds, the fire truck that is going to be shut down at this station and stations throughout this county, rescue trucks that are shut down. If you have an emergency in your community, that can be the difference between life and death.”
Personnel scheduled to work at the out-of-service units were reassigned to stations where extra help is needed to cover shifts.
As a result, areas affected may see longer response times. “I don’t believe anyone ever thought we would get to this point,” said Taylor. “That we’re shutting down fire service and putting the public in danger.”
Officials hope this move could save the jobs of firefighters that might otherwise come under the ax when the budget year starts in September.
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