Signal Hill : Fire Services May Be Shared

Long Beach firefighters could be providing services for Signal Hill residents under a three-way proposal among the cities and Los Angeles County. The Signal Hill City Council this week approved the proposal, which now will go to Long Beach officials who already have expressed their support. After that, it will go to the county for approval.

Long Beach plans to contract with the county to provide fire services in Signal Hill. The county has been operating a station in Signal Hill for $1.1 million a year, which was about $600,000 more than the county could recuperate, Signal Hill Mayor Richard Ceccia said.

Once the proposal is ratified, Long Beach will take over the job. Part of the income it will receive from the county will allow Long Beach to keep its Palo Verde Avenue fire station open. The city manager had suggested earlier this year closing the station but the Long Beach City Council, at the urging of people who live in the area, said it wanted to keep it open.