BUENA PARK : Laguna Crisis Delays Firefighting Study

Because Orange County Fire Department crews worked long hours last week battling the Laguna Beach blaze, officials have delayed completing a study to determine if Buena Park should contract fire services with the county.

“Due to the fire, the study stopped because all the firemen were involved in the fire,” Mayor Arthur C. Brown said. “It will take us longer to get the report. It makes things last a little longer, but a two-week, three-week or month delay won’t make any difference.”

The council voted in August to study whether the city could save money by obtaining fire protection services from the county. The study’s findings were expected to be completed by December.

But now, City Manager Kevin O’Rourke said, the results won’t be presented to the council until late January. The council is not likely to act on the study until February or March, he said.

“We’re not under any pressure to perform. We’ll produce the best recommendation to the City Council when we can,” O’Rourke said.

The first half of the study began in May. In July, preliminary results indicated that the city could save between $100,000 and $1 million if it shut down its own Fire Department and contracted with the county.

The second half of the study will examine personnel-related issues and the disposition of city fire stations, apparatus and equipment.

Meanwhile, at Monday’s City Council meeting, 30-year resident Max R. Schulman contended that a county Fire Department employee told him that the switch was all but certain.

Schulman also requested that public documents relating to the matter be made available to residents. He said he wants the documents in order “to preclude people from taking positions based on hearsay.”

Council members directed O’Rourke and Fire Chief Herb Jewell to contact county officials to quell any misinformation.

Councilman Donald L. Bone emphasized that nothing has been decided.