County to Take Over Fire Protection Services
After nearly a century of fighting blazes, delivering babies and saving lives, the Covina Fire Department will be disbanded and merged with the Los Angeles County Fire Protection District.
On a 3-2 vote, a bitterly divided City Council late Tuesday approved the merger, which calls for the county to absorb Covina’s three fire stations and most of its firefighters and paramedics at a projected savings to the city of $1.2 million a year.
Led by Mayor Thomas O’Leary, the same council majority tossed aside a competing offer submitted two weeks ago by the neighboring West Covina Fire Department.
“Gentlemen, safety delayed is safety denied,” O’Leary said. “West Covina cannot provide the level of service the county will provide.”
After three hours of debate, O’Leary was joined in supporting the 10-year contract by Councilman Walter Allen and Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Stapleton. The change will be effective in January, officials said.
Last March, in an advisory referendum, Covina voters approved the idea of the county taking over the local fire stations. The proposal was also endorsed by Covina’s firefighters.
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