Dear Chief Mark King~

Whenever I try to call the fire department no one answers. Having had interaction with the fire department for various reasons over the past several years, it seemed someone was always there to answer the door or pick up the phone. Recently that has not been the case. Why? I know the fire department is staffed all the time with firefighters and office staff.

Anonymous ~

Dear Anonymous,

Like many other businesses and individuals the S.E. Fire Authority (SETFA) has experienced an unprecedented drop in revenue. SETFA’s first obligation is providing an efficient and effective response to fire and emergency medical calls. As a result of dropping revenue, the Board of Fire Commissioners made the difficult decision to lay off four administrative personnel, allowing SETFA to keep all uniformed staff responding to 911 calls.

When calling SETFA, please leave a message with your name and phone number (speak slowly and clearly). When stopping by the station, please ring the doorbell if the front door is locked. If available, someone will answer the door. In an emergency, CALL 911 immediately. When firefighters are on duty, their responsibility is responding to 911 calls, ensuring a state of operational readiness, training, and conducting life safety inspections.

SETFA will continue to review and prioritize expenditure of tax payer’s funds ensuring we maintain the highest possible level of fire and emergency medical services.

Chief Mark King ~