Logansport Fire Chief Bob McMinn is scheduled to appear before the city council finance committee on Tuesday to talk about the sort of fire department he envisions now that surrounding townships have decided to go their own way.
That meeting might answer some questions about how many Logansport firefighters stand to lose their jobs.
Mayor Mike Fincher has offered to talk about extending the contract with the city for another year, but township officials have indicated that’s unlikely. They believe they can have their own fire department in place by the first of the year.
In the end, the change might actually result in more jobs for firefighters.
In previous discussions, the city has talked about eliminating a quarter of its firefighters and perhaps closing one of three fire stations. The townships, on the other hand, have talked about setting up their own station and staffing it around the clock with three full-time firefighters.
The numbers haven’t been nailed down publicly at this point, but a fire station operating on 24-hour shifts would likely need shifts rotating every four days, or roughly a dozen full-time firefighters.
Covering for vacations and days off might require a few more.
At the moment, the Logansport Fire Department staffs three stations with 40 firefighters. Trimming the number to 30 would almost certainly mean shutting down one of the three stations.
When it’s all said and done, the effect might be that laid-off firefighters will simply move from a station in the city to a station somewhere outside the city. Of course, the change in employers might also include a change in pay and benefits.
It’s important that officials on both sides of this discussion spell out their plans as quickly as possible so that residents and businesses relying on the two departments will be clear on what they can expect.
Will the Logansport Fire Department continue responding to calls for mutual aid at fires outside the city? Will the township firefighters be available to help should a major fire erupt inside the city limits?
In the end, this is all about public safety, and it’s critical that those in both camps put their personal feelings aside and look for the best way to provide fire protection for residents of the three townships.
Want to go?
What: City council finance committee meeting
When: 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Council chambers on the third floor of the City Building, 601 E. Broadway.
Details: The meeting will feature presentations from Logansport Fire Chief Bob McMinn and parks administrator Jan Fawley.
