By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Cleveland officials presented a roughly $245 million plan this week to the City Council’s Safety Committee to repair, renovate or replace fire stations, 87% of which are more than 40 years old.
• The plan calls for about $30 million in repairs, $65 million to renovate or expand 12 stations and $150 million to replace 10 stations.
• The two-year study, conducted by the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects, the city’s fire and EMS divisions and outside architects, examined all 24 existing stations and aims to modernize safety features, including separating living quarters from apparatus bays and adding female quarters at every station.
• The city also wants to bring EMS operations, currently housed partly outside fire stations, back into station buildings where possible.
• City officials said no overall replacement schedule or full funding plan exists yet; council members pressed for more data on response times, coverage gaps and air quality before further projects move forward.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland has unveiled a roughly $245 million plan to repair, renovate or replace its fire stations, 87% of which are more than 40 years old, according to a presentation this week to the City Council’s Safety Committee.

The plan calls for about $30 million in repairs, $65 million to renovate or expand 12 stations and $150 million to replace 10 others. The city’s fire stations average about 66 years old; the oldest operating station, Fire Station 24, was built in 1910, while the newest, Station 26, opened in 2025. The roughly two-year study behind the plan was conducted by the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects, the city’s fire and EMS divisions and outside architects, examining all 24 existing stations.

The goal is to bring stations closer to modern safety standards for firefighters and EMS workers, including creating a buffer between living quarters and areas where fire trucks are parked, improving ventilation, providing female quarters at every station, adding drive-through apparatus bays and improving accessibility. The city also wants to bring its seven EMS units, which currently operate from locations outside fire stations, back into station buildings where possible while continuing to strategically stage ambulances citywide.

The 12 stations identified for renovation are considered good candidates because of their condition, location and available property for expansion. The 10 proposed for replacement are generally older, have difficult layouts or sit on properties too small to expand. City Architect Mark Duluk cautioned that the roughly $241.4 million estimate, rounded to $245 million in the presentation, will change as individual projects are designed and bid, and warned that delaying construction could raise costs further as prices continue to rise.

Council members focused much of their questioning on where replacement stations would be built and how locations would affect emergency response times. Councilman Charles Slife requested the city’s analysis of response times at existing and proposed locations, along with call-volume data and information on potential coverage gaps. Councilwoman Nikki Hudson pressed officials on how the 10 replacement stations would be prioritized and requested indoor air-quality studies, particularly at older stations where living quarters sit close to apparatus bays.

City officials said there is no overall replacement schedule yet. One exception is the Madison Avenue station, where the city is pursuing land and has capital-budget funding for future design and construction; a potential site for a new Fire Station 24 has also been identified at the Walton School property, though funding for that project has not yet been secured. Public Safety Director Wayne Drummond said residents and council members would be notified before any station closed temporarily for construction, with apparatus relocated to maintain coverage.

The city has not yet hired contractors for the broader modernization program, and council members are seeking additional data on costs, locations, response times and worker safety before further projects advance.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• The Annapolis, Maryland, City Council approved new collective bargaining agreements Monday for police, fire and trade union employees covering fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
• Firefighters will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment each year, an increase the city estimates will cost about $200,000.
• Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge abstained on the firefighter contract alone, citing the union’s recent censure of him over paramedic funding; Ward 3 Alderman Keanuú Smith-Brown abstained on all three agreements, saying they “fall short” of employee needs.
• The International Association of Fire Fighters voted last month to censure Savidge over his opposition to funding additional paramedics, a largely symbolic action with no formal consequences.
• The police union will receive a 1% raise in fiscal 2027 and 2% in fiscal 2028, plus a 1% increase to starting salaries, at an estimated cost of $375,000; the trade union will receive 2% raises each year, costing about $100,000.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Annapolis City Council approved new collective bargaining agreements Monday night for the city’s police, fire and trade unions, with two aldermen abstaining from some or all of the votes.

The contracts, covering fiscal years 2027 and 2028, follow the council’s approval of a separate agreement with clerical workers two weeks earlier. The council last approved agreements with the four unions in 2024. “I am pleased all our labor agreements passed unanimously,” Mayor Jared Littmann said in a statement. “The negotiations involved some give and take on both sides, but the final agreements show respect and appreciation for staff and highlight the fiscal discipline that taxpayers are seeking.”

Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge abstained from voting on the firefighter agreement only. Savidge told the Capital Gazette he objected to what he described as the firefighters’ union becoming more political rather than focused on staffing concerns. “I don’t want to send a message that it’s acceptable to have the union leadership be so political with their actions. At the same time, I don’t want to hold up the overall agreement,” he said. The International Association of Fire Fighters voted last month to censure Savidge during its conference in Texas over his pushback on funding additional paramedics — an action that carries no formal consequences but signals public disapproval. Savidge said the censure, submitted for review by the Annapolis Professional Firefighters Local 1926, contributed to his decision to abstain. “They’ve ignored the objective facts and their own strategic plan, and instead decided to become political. That’s the behavior that I can’t condone with a yes or no vote,” he said.

Joe Pilat, president of the city’s fire union, said Savidge should have cast a vote regardless. “After years of questioning nearly every investment in public safety, when it was finally time to take a position, he chose not to take one at all,” Pilat said. “You don’t have to agree with us, but elected office requires the courage to cast a vote and stand behind it. Abstaining when it’s your turn to be accountable is the opposite of that.”

Ward 3 Alderman Keanuú Smith-Brown abstained from voting on all three agreements, saying he believed they “fall short” of meeting city employees’ needs, though he did not specify what changes he would have sought. “I abstained, not necessarily in disagreement with the reality that there has to be some type of agreement, but just standing on the principles that our workforce or our staff deserve more,” he said.

Under the approved agreement, the firefighter union will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment in both fiscal years, at an estimated cost of $200,000. The police union, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, will see a 1% raise in fiscal 2027 and a 2% raise in fiscal 2028, along with a 1% increase to starting salaries for new officers and a one-pay-scale increase for five officers — changes expected to cost about $375,000 combined. The agreement also adds grandparents-in-law as eligible family members for bereavement leave. The trade union, representing public works and central services employees under AFSCME Local 3406, will receive 2% raises in both years, at an estimated cost of $100,000.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• A medical helicopter crashed into the ocean off Catalina Island, roughly 22 miles off the Los Angeles County mainland, shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.
• Rescuers recovered four people from the water; two were pronounced dead at the scene, and two were taken to mainland hospitals in stable condition.
• A fifth person reported aboard remained missing as of early Thursday, with search and rescue operations continuing overnight.
• Los Angeles County Fire Department, lifeguard units, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Avalon Fire and the U.S. Coast Guard all responded.
• The helicopter, believed to be owned by REACH Air Medical Services, was found submerged in about 240 feet of water after apparently crashing shortly after takeoff from Catalina; the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

LOS ANGELES — A medical helicopter crashed into the ocean off Catalina Island Wednesday evening, killing two people and leaving a fifth person missing as search and rescue crews worked through the night, authorities said.

First responders were called to the crash shortly before 8 p.m. and pulled four people from the water. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, and two were taken to hospitals on the mainland in stable condition, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. A fifth person believed to have been aboard remained unaccounted for early Thursday. “This remains an active scene with search and rescue operations continuing throughout the night,” the department said.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said she was told the medevac helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Catalina Island, located about 22 miles off the Los Angeles County coast. County firefighters and lifeguards responded alongside the U.S. Coast Guard and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities said the helicopter was found submerged in approximately 240 feet of water. KTLA-TV reported the aircraft was believed to be owned by REACH Air Medical Services, based in Sacramento, California.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• A roughly six-hour standoff Wednesday between U.S. Border Patrol agents and two men ended after the men got off a rooftop at 261 E. 7th St. in Oswego, New York, and left in waiting cars.
• Oswego police said they were initially called for a reckless-driving report, later learning federal agents were attempting to detain the men under a federal judicial warrant.
• City police and firefighters brought a ladder to the scene at the agents’ request; Mayor Robert Corradino said the city provided only equipment, not law enforcement assistance, and that the agents’ warrant had been verified by Oswego’s city attorney.
• A crowd that grew to more than 70 protesters gathered near the home, chanting for the agents to leave and demanding to see the warrant; one of the men on the roof knocked down the first ladder.
• Nearby Charles Riley Elementary School went into a “lockout” with enhanced dismissal procedures as a precaution; U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it would provide information on the incident Thursday.

OSWEGO, N.Y. — A standoff between U.S. Border Patrol agents and two men on a rooftop in Oswego ended Wednesday evening after roughly six hours, with the men escaping in waiting vehicles as a crowd of protesters looked on, according to Syracuse.com.

Oswego police said officers were initially dispatched to the area on East 7th Street for a reckless-driving complaint, later learning the call stemmed from federal agents attempting to detain multiple individuals under a federal judicial warrant. Two men climbed onto the roof of a home at 261 E. 7th St. as agents waited below.

At the agents’ request, Oswego city police officers and firefighters brought a ladder to the home and extended it to the roof before Border Patrol officers took over; one of the men on the roof knocked the ladder down, drawing cheers from the gathered crowd. Mayor Robert Corradino said the city provided only equipment, not law enforcement assistance. “It is no different than my next-door neighbor asking for a ladder for a gutter issue,” Corradino said. He added that Oswego Fire Chief Paul Conzone had confirmed with the city’s attorney that the agents’ warrant had been signed by a judge.

A crowd that grew to more than 70 people gathered near the home throughout the afternoon, chanting “let them go” and demanding agents show the warrant; some protesters also threw water bottles toward the men on the roof. Oswego police provided crowd control and worked to keep protesters off the private property.

Nearby Charles Riley Elementary School was placed under a “lockout” around 2 p.m., according to Oswego City School District Superintendent Raymond Kilmer III, who said the district implemented enhanced dismissal procedures, including releasing walking students only to an adult and taking additional precautions for students riding buses. Corradino said city police were sent to assist with the school dismissal, calling the standoff’s timing and proximity to the school “the worst” circumstance, and said the city’s involvement was unrelated to assisting federal agents.

Federal agents were seen leaving the scene around 7:30 p.m. About an hour later, the two men got off the roof and left in waiting cars. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said the agency was reviewing the incident and would have information to share Thursday.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• The Fort Worth, Texas, City Council voted 10-0 Sept. 29 to approve a four-year, $54 million contract with the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association.
• The Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association ratified the deal Sept. 23 by a 97%-to-3% vote after months of bargaining.
• The union had declared an impasse with the city in July, citing “critical safety issues” and an alleged failure to negotiate in good faith.
• The contract includes 5% across-the-board wage increases, market adjustments for below-market positions, and additional staffing relief personnel.
• The agreement runs through September 2030.

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth City Council voted 10-0 Tuesday to approve a four-year, $54 million contract with the union representing the city’s firefighters, following a bargaining dispute that reached an impasse earlier this year.

The Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association ratified the agreement Sept. 23 after months of negotiations. The union had declared an impasse with the city in July over what it described as “critical safety issues” and a failure to negotiate in good faith.

The new contract includes 5% across-the-board wage increases, along with market adjustments for positions whose pay had fallen below comparable market rates, and additional staffing relief personnel. City officials estimate the four-year deal will cost $54 million.

“I’m proud of the incredibly hard work that city leadership and the 440 have put into this collective bargaining agreement, prioritizing our firefighters and EMS personnel to ensure we remain one of the safest large cities in the nation,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in a statement.

Union President Zac Shaffer said the agreement reflects a collaborative process. “Throughout negotiations, both sides of the table worked tirelessly to deliver a solution that allowed us to continue providing excellent fire and EMS service while also being fair to the city and valuing employees,” Shaffer said. “The 440 is proud of this contract.”

Union members ratified the contract by a 97%-to-3% vote. The agreement is set to expire in September 2030.

North Wales, Pa., Officials Weigh Costs, Voice Concerns in Fire Service Regionalization Study

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• North Wales, Pennsylvania, officials are reviewing a state-backed study recommending shared fire services among North Wales, Upper and Lower Gwynedd, and Ambler.
• Mayor Neil McDevitt said the borough favors operational cooperation over a costly merger, citing concerns that the smallest community wouldn’t have a proportionate voice in the process.
• The North Penn Volunteer Fire Company estimates replacing current volunteer coverage with two full-time daytime staff would cost about $750,000 annually, or $1.08 million for four full-time staff, compared with the $40,000-$45,000 the borough currently contributes.
• Council’s recommendation is not to pursue formal legal consolidation at this time, instead focusing on operational cooperation such as shared training and equipment standardization.
• The North Penn Volunteer Fire Company faces an annual roughly $200,000 funding gap covered through fundraisers and investment income; council next meets Oct. 13.

NORTH WALES, Pa. — North Wales officials are examining what a state-backed fire services regionalization study would mean for the borough, weighing potential cost increases against concerns about the community’s influence in any eventual agreement with three neighboring municipalities.

“We’re just looking at how it applies to North Wales specifically,” Mayor Neil McDevitt told council Tuesday night. The discussion follows a joint study presented by state Department of Community and Economic Development officials in May in partnership with North Wales, Upper and Lower Gwynedd, Ambler and their respective fire companies.

McDevitt said council’s public safety committee has met several times with North Penn Volunteer Fire Company leadership since the study’s release to discuss its recommendations and rough cost estimates. “One of the key findings in this is: We need to make sure we have a voice in the process,” McDevitt said, noting North Wales would have the smallest population and tax base among the four communities. “We’re not convinced, as the smallest community, that we would have a proportionate voice in the process.”

The borough currently contributes $40,000 to $45,000 annually to the volunteer fire company. Replacing that level of service with paid daytime staff would cost an estimated $750,000 for two full-time employees working weekday hours, or roughly $1.08 million to fully staff a fire truck with four personnel — an increase McDevitt said would represent 15 to 23 times the borough’s current funding level.

North Penn Volunteer Fire Company President Ian Horowitz and Chief Dan Mathe said the department already informally coordinates with neighboring fire companies during major incidents, citing a recent fire on Shearer Street that drew responses from 10 to 12 surrounding jurisdictions. Horowitz said cultural differences and long institutional histories among the various companies could pose challenges to any deeper integration. “It’s a very prideful organization, in every town that you go,” he said. “So there’s hurdles to jump, but we’re not really there yet.”

Council’s current recommendations are to avoid formal legal consolidation for now, let the fire companies take the lead on identifying areas for coordination, potentially increase borough funding to the fire company with annual reporting requirements, and support the fire company’s advocacy for a county-wide GPS-based dispatch system, which officials said could improve on the current method of dispatching from availability lists rather than proximity.

Mathe said operating “a bare-bones firehouse” costs the department about $300,000 annually, with roughly $100,000 coming from North Wales and Lower Gwynedd Township combined, leaving a $200,000 annual gap covered through fundraisers and investment income before accounting for apparatus purchases or station upgrades. Council President Mark Tarlecki noted a pending state bill that could allow the borough to raise a local services tax dedicated to fire funding, though he said any such change remains distant. “This is a long way off. It’s certainly not going to pass this year,” Tarlecki said.

North Wales Borough Council next meets at 7 p.m. Oct. 13.