Fullerton city council members on Tuesday, Oct. 16, will determine the future of the city\u2019s in-house fire department after over a year of discussing whether the department should merge with the Orange County Fire Authority [OCFA].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A week prior to the meeting, Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung evaluated the monetary cost and quality of service Fullerton would gain if the council decides to merge Fullerton\u2019s 113-year-old fire department with OCFA, an affiliation Fullerton firefighters have pressured the council to choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is the quality of service that we get, should we go over to OCFA? That is one additional paramedic, so no additional firefighters,\u201d Jung said. \u201cIs one additional paramedic worth the $5 million additional cost to a budget that\u2019s already strained in an economy that\u2019s headed in recession? Would that be the fiscally prudent thing for Fullerton long term and its residents?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents during the public comments expressed a different perspective of the merge. From Fullerton firefighters to meeting regulars, more than one person quoted the cliche definition of insanity as \u201cdoing the same thing over and over again to get the same result,\u201d and encouraged the city council members to go ahead with the merge at a Sept. 6 meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy are people leaving? Why can\u2019t we get people to stay?\u201d Fullerton Fire Chief Adam Loeser said at the meeting, pointing to consistent lack of funds over the years that led the department to its current state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n