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Residents implore Sparks City Council to keep Fire Station 5 open as council weighs staffing options
Summary
Dozens of Wingfield Springs residents urged the Sparks City Council to halt plans to close Fire Station 5, citing rapid response in past emergencies, traffic and growth-related delays, and concerns that staffing promises for a new Station 6 rely on overtime rather than new hires.
Dozens of residents told the Sparks City Council on Nov. 10 that closing Fire Station 5 would damage emergency response in Wingfield Springs and Golden Eagle Park. Speakers gave multiple first-hand accounts of rapid responses and near-misses they said depended on Station 5's proximity.
“Time matters and can make a difference in life or death,” said resident Jim Kindness, who told the council he has responded to fires and medical calls for nearly 30 years and urged the council to keep the station open. Several other residents described recent incidents in which crews from Station 5 arrived in minutes and, they said, saved lives or prevented larger fires.
Why it matters: Wingfield Springs has seen rapid residential and multifamily growth alongside high-traffic corridors. Residents and multiple speakers said new roundabouts and commute congestion on Vista and Sparks Boulevard increase the risk that apparatus routed from a more distant Station 6 would be delayed. John Corbin, who said he survived a “widowmaker” heart attack three years ago, said Station 5’s four‑minute response saved his life.
Council response and next steps: Council members did not vote to close or keep Station 5 during the meeting. Councilmember Rodriguez asked the city manager to explore an operational alternative: shifting the ambulance assigned to Station 5 to Station 1 and relocating an engine to Station 6 so both facilities remain staffed in some capacity. Rodriguez framed the idea as a way to preserve some local ambulance coverage while staffing the new station.
What residents said about costs: Speakers questioned the city’s budget priorities, pointing to recent park investments and saying overtime is high in the fire budget. John Corbin noted the budget shows roughly $2.7 million paid in overtime and suggested hiring full‑time firefighters rather than relying on overtime to staff future needs. Jim Kindness and others said Station 5’s closure could raise homeowners’ insurance or lead to lawsuits if response times lengthen.
What the record shows: Public testimony referenced a 2018 Labrum Data Technologies station location analysis predicting incident growth and modelled improvements from Station 6 if Station 5 remains staffed. Council did not adopt any motion to close Station 5, and no vote to change station operations was recorded; members discussed exploring staff reassignments and directed staff to report back.
What’s next: Councilmember Rodriguez asked staff to examine possible reassignments to preserve ambulance coverage and report back to the council. No timetable was set during the meeting.
