Later this week, Natomas residents will get their first taste of the city's "brown out" budget cuts to the fire department. This Friday and Saturday, Fire Station 30 in North Natomas, located at Club Center and Danbrook, will be half staffed.Normally there would be eight firefighters on duty to man the two fire vehicles (a truck and an engine) at that station. During the brown out, there will only be four firefighters on duty and they can only man one of the vehicles.
When a call comes in the Captain of that station will have to choose which vehicle to take.
There are three fire stations in north and south Natomas combined, but Station 30 is the only one with an engine -- the other two have one truck each.
The "brown outs" are every nine days and are spread across the fire houses throughout the city that have both a truck and an engine. This Friday and Saturday will be our communities first turn at having the closure, which started earlier this week.
Note to NATOMAS BUZZ readers: Check out the Guest Column below by Fire Captain Jaymes Butler about our city's level of public safety -- or lack thereof.
