Study: Marion needs 2 more fire stations, more firefighters

MARION - A study commissioned by the Marion Fire Department recommends the city go from two to four fire stations by 2021 to protect its growing population and demands for more service.

The study completed by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, a non-profit that accredits fire and emergency service agencies, recommends locations for a third fire station, scheduled to be built in 2018.

The report also criticizes the department's lack of full-time staffing, calling it 'less than satisfactory for the risks and demands which currently exist in the city of Marion.”

The reports recommends Marion add a fourth fire state by 2021, with up to 21 firefighters and officers working each shift. At this time, up to eight firefighters staff the city's two stations at 600 Eighth Ave. and 3933 Katz Dr.

While the Marion Fire Department plans to open a third station in 2018 and hire nine firefighters to staff it, the report says those staffing levels are insufficient.

City officials haven't begun planning for a fourth station.

The Marion Fire Department opened Station No. 1 in 1964 and Station No. 2 in 1991, when the city's population was about 20,000. It's now 37,000.

'It seems natural that we've doubled the population, then we need two more stations,” said Fire Chief Deb Krebill. 'I can see why we need two more.”

The study recommends the third station go near Tower Terrace Road and 10th Street and a fourth be built near Highway 13 and 35th Avenue.

While the City Council approved hiring nine firefighters to staff Station No. 3, the report indicates it needs to hire 15 to have a minimum of five working each shift. Krebill now wants to see at least 12 firefighters hired for the third station.

'I don't know how the City Council is going to budget that,” Krebill said. 'That's the concern. Payroll is the biggest part of the cost. I know that the council and city manager have taken steps to hire nine (firefighters) by 2018, but like I said, I think we have to go to 12. I'm going to push for that.”

The study recommends the city obtain land for Station No. 4 within four years and hire 12 firefighters to staff it.

In addition to improving response times, the report said, additional fire stations with proper equipment and staffing could lower the city's Insurance Service Office rating, which in turn would lower residential and business fire insurance costs.

City Manager Lon Pluckhahn said the council will have to evaluate the risks and costs associated with expanding the department.

While having more stations and firefighters may improve the city's insurance rating - now an ISO 3 on ISO's 10-point scale - he questioned the benefit of moving up to a 2.

'I can understand how they make those recommendations, but it comes down to the particular risk you have for your communities,” he said. 'ISO 3 ... is very highly rated, as far as fire protection goes. Going from a 3 to a 2, there really isn't much of a benefit, and you're spending an awful lot of money,” he said.

As for hiring more staff, he said, the same logic applies. The city likely will continue to hire three firefighters per year until 2018 to staff Station No. 3 with nine firefighters.

Any more than that, Pluckhahn said, and it 'comes down to what extra results we're going to get. Simply having three more people in a station isn't going to (make) a whole lot of difference.”