Fire Department reports Fire Station 20 back in service; council asks about Fire Station 8 flooding and vacant-property fires

City officials updated the council on several fire-department matters, including the return to service of Fire Station 20 and concerns about water intrusion at Fire Station 8 and recent fires at a property described as in foreclosure.

The fire chief told the council the city received a permit for Fire Station 20 and moved staff in; one engine company is operating from the station while Truck 20 is still staged at Fire Station 22. Since moving into the temporary arrangement, the chief said crews made multiple runs from the North Market/temporary location and that the port tenants were informed of the change. The chief said a new truck would be picked up at the end of the week and that a firefighter volunteered to install a security camera at the temporary station.

Council members thanked staff for restoring operations and noted the visible presence of personnel. The chief also said the department encountered a recent apartment fire at a property described as "19 o 1" (transcript wording) and later said that property was under the control of a keeper that had been foreclosed on and that a sale was pending.

On Fire Station 8, council members asked whether water intrusion and possible mold were under control after recent rain. The fire chief said design work is nearly complete, staff are coordinating with the city attorney's office and engineering, and the issue will be addressed as quickly as possible; the chief said the work should not require city funds.

No formal motions or votes were taken. Councilmembers asked the fire department and public works to continue work on station repairs, share maps or supporting materials when possible, and provide updates on the vacant-property fires and station remediation.