Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 19, 1991 TAG: 9104190547
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We really don't think it is that significant because we have been assured that the full complement of firemen will respond to all fires downtown," said Kim Kimbrough, executive director of Downtown Roanoke Inc.
Kimbrough said Thursday that the group's board has unanimously endorsed the city manager's proposal because it doesn't think it will lower the quality of downtown fire protection.
City officials have done a "good job of educating the business community" about the move, he said. They explained the proposal to the board before it was made public.
Herbert recommended the shift instead of hiring 12 more firefighters, a move that would save $329,809 a year. The recommendation was part of his proposed $152.1 million budget for the new fiscal year.
The Roanoke Firefighters Association opposes the proposal because, it says, moving firefighters out of downtown will jeopardize fire protection.
Kimbrough said the downtown group initially was cautious about the shift and feared that it might be the first step in closing Station No. 1. But city officials have told the downtown businessmen they have no plans to close the station.
"We were assured this is an economic stopgap measure," he said.
Downtown businessmen also were concerned about whether the shift would have any effect on insurance rates, but have been assured it won't, he said.
Herbert and Fire Chief Rawleigh Quarles said response times in downtown will remain well below the four-minute citywide standard.
Station No. 1 now is staffed by a four-member pumper company and a five-member ladder company. The pumper company will be shifted to the U.S. 460 station, but the ladder company will remain at the downtown station. Twelve members are assigned to a pumper company - four for each shift.
by CNB