BUENA PARK : Contract Fire Service Under Study by City

A preliminary study of contracting with the Orange County Fire Department for fire protection has revealed that such a switch could benefit the city, officials said.

City Manager Kevin O’Rourke said the first half of the study, released last week in closed session to the City Council, showed that “it’s a strong possibility. It could very well work.”

O’Rourke said county fire officials told the council that they “believe they can retain--and possibly improve--the quality of service to our residents and, by doing so, save the city money.”

But O’Rourke said it’s too early in the study process to estimate actual savings.

Fire Chief Herb Jewell said that the city’s savings could range from $100,000 to $1 million a year, not including the start-up costs of converting local fire protection services to the county.

It will cost an estimated $5.1 million to operate the city’s Fire Department for the 1993-94 fiscal year, city officials said.

O’Rourke said the council must now take formal action on whether to continue with the second phase of the feasibility study.

“The council has by no means made any decision,” O’Rourke said.

The second phase of the study would address issues that relate to the department’s personnel, the disposition of fire equipment and facilities and whether the switch would produce long-term savings.

O’Rourke said council members could decide at the Aug. 2 meeting whether to continue with the second half of the study, which is being conducted by the county.

Mayor Arthur C. Brown said council members have a number of questions and concerns that must be answered.

“The preliminary information had a lot of positive feedback, but it raised a lot of questions,” added Councilman Donald L. Bone.

“If it doesn’t provide a savings and is not able to provide the current or better level of service to the citizens, then it’s a moot point.”