La Verne Fire Station Reopening Hits Snag

LA VERNE, CA — Mayor Tim Hepburn planned to reopen Fire Station No. 3, but that plan hit a setback Tuesday when the City Council shot down his proposal to use $1.5 million from the city’s reserves to help fund the facility.

The money would have been used to hire more personnel for the department, who would then operate out of the station. Council members nixed Hepburn’s proposal, saying the city should draw on a more sustainable source of funding.

“Part of our duty to residents is being fiscally responsible,” Mayor Pro Tem Muir Davis said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “Relying on a one-time funding source like reserves for resources that would be an ongoing expense could position the city for future financial hardship.”

Davis added that reserve funds should best be used to help the city weather unexpected emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic.

Council members nevertheless outlined several steps to reopen the station and expand the fire department.

One step is to conduct a study on the fire department to see how resources are currently used by the agency and to determine if any need to be reallocated or streamlined.

A majority of the service calls the LVFD received were for medical emergencies, according to Councilman Rick Crosby. As a result, the city is also looking to hire two additional paramedics who will operate out of Fire Station No. 3

City officials will also continue their search for a permanent fire chief who would provide stability for an agency that has seen five interim chiefs in the last three years. Larry Waterhouse is the current interim chief for the department.

“Once a permanent fire chief is on board, this leadership position will be vital for navigating the best path forward for La Verne’s fire and emergency services and letting us know what LVFD needs,” Councilwoman Robin Carder said.

Fire Station No. 3 was closed more than a year ago because of a staff shortage that plagued the La Verne Fire Department. The shortage was fueled in part by a city budget crunch that was exacerbated by the pandemic.

The firefighters’ union blamed the staff shortage on the city’s inability to increase morale among firefighters and to ensure a safe work environment for personnel, according to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.