This is a super sore point with me- a former smoke-eater.
Everybody should know that an uncontrolled fire will double in size every 30 to 60 seconds.
Therefore if your property catches fire- you want it out as soon as possible and that's why fire stations are configured the way they are around any large town or city.
In Topeka and Springfield- fire stations are kept closed due to "staffing."
Topeka's Engine 3 located at that city's fire training facility on S.W. Jefferson seems that it's rarely in service anymore.
In Springfield- they can close up to 2 fire stations for lack of staffing rather than call in off-duty firefighters (overtime) to staff them.
These methods will work wonders with a municipal budget- until someone is seriously hurt and/or dies because the nearest firehouse was closed.
The ensuing lawsuit(s) will put a media-feeding-frenzy end to ANY municipal cost-savings- not to mention a few political careers.
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