2 Oakland fire stations closing to help balance city's $129 million budget deficit

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- As Oakland faces a crippling $129 million budget deficit, two firehouses are set to close next week to help close the gap and that could mean slower response times for some residents.

"There are no fire houses that we can afford to close. We need every firehouse we have and then some," said Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington.

Covington said data led them to these stations, which are among the least busy.

According to the last published fire response report, Oakland firefighters responded to more than 54,000 calls in 2023.

Fire Station 28 responded to 405 of those and fire station 25 responded to 834 calls. These are the two firehouses set to close.

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"Right now, these two firehouses will be closed for the next six months through the end of the fiscal year. At the end of the fiscal year, these firehouses will open back up. And if we have a need to continue to brownout firehouses, we will rotate to different firehouses from there," Covington said.

Firefighters from Engine 28 and 25 will be sent to other stations. The city's administrator said they are aware of the impact.

"This is not a very good place for us to be at this point in time, but our goal is to come up with a more robust solution," said Jestin Johnson, Oakland city administrator.

Fire risk is the main concern for many in the area with the closest station about 10 minutes away.

RELATED: Oakland faces major cuts across all city departments amid historic $129 million budget deficit

"We are heartbroken. It's just sad," said Arianna Cruz, co-owner of Charlie May Coffee and Tea House.

"The last fire that we had in this area, they were kind of our first line of defense," said Co-owner Analyssa Cruz.

"There are a lot of trees, a lot of houses, a lot of big houses, and it gets really dry in the summer. So, yeah, it's scary," said Oakland resident River Motley.

Covington said closing these firehouses until June will save Oakland approximately $5 million but response times will be delayed.

"It's naïve to think that--again, I don't say this lightly--to think that people won't be hurt or killed because of these decisions," said Seth Olyer, vice president of the Oakland Fire Union IAFF Local 55.