Petitions on Fire Service Changes Filed in Two Cities

Proposals to bring county fire services to Lynwood and Montebello gained ground Monday as supporters filed petitions to put the question before voters in both cities.

A political consultant hired by the cities’ firefighters unions turned in signatures requesting municipal elections on whether each city’s fire department should be merged with the county’s firefighters.

Union officials representing firefighters in Lynwood and Montebello have tried in vain for more than a year to have their departments absorbed into the county system, which they say would reduce costs and improve services. But in both cases, the city councils have rejected the proposals, citing a need for local control.

The cities have requested and received proposals from the county for fire protection that would keep all the fire stations in both cities open without requiring layoffs. The plan would save an estimated $650,000 annually in Lynwood and between $900,000 and $1.5 million in Montebello.