Firehouse Receives Temporary Reprieve

The Santa Barbara firehouse on East Sola Street won a temporary reprieve as high-ranking bean counters at City Hall, needing to save nearly $900,000, discovered ways other than closing the station house. Word of the Sola Street station’s imminent demise was initially leaked by the firefighters’ union, upset at the speed with which the decision was proceeding and concerned that other alternatives had not been explored. Members of the City Council, in response, cautioned Fire Chief Andy DiMizio, to investigate alternatives. Nearly half-a-million was “borrowed” from the Solid Waste fund, and another half-million was secured from the Redevelopment Agency via some creative booking analysis. The reprieve, however, is effective only till July 1.