'Calls aren't going to disappear': Milwaukee Fire Department holds community meetings about declining resources, rising demand

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Fire Department has held several community meetings throughout the month of October, discussing the current state of the department and concerns for the future.

Eight meetings were held Monday, Oct. 10 at different fire stations across the city.

While the fire department has been fighting budget cuts for several years, concern is rising as the city's 2023 budget proposal would eliminate two more fire engines, one in January and another in June.

Chief Aaron Lipski chose to turn to community meetings to ensure the public is aware of the dire straits and are part of the tough conversation.

"I don't think most people really understand the breadth, and the scope, and the depth of what a firehouse, or a fire engine, or a paramedic or a ladder truck, what they do, what they offer to a neighborhood."

Lipski noted the fire stations' role as a safe haven, supplying Narcan and other resources for those in need.

With the talk of two more stations closing in the city, the department is leaning into the fight to provide a better outlook for the future.

Lipski especially does not want to close stations in diversely populated areas, such as Milwaukee's northwest side and southside neighborhoods, in interest of racial equity for public safety.

"I can't think of a more poignant way to indicate that we need help than - we're shutting more fire stations down, and this is at a time that our demands for service are ever-climbing," Lipski said.

Lipski told CBS 58, the city and county's public safety dollars can only go so far, and Milwaukee needs more help from the state to fix the department's issues.

"We've got flat or declining state shared revenue coming into the city. I would call it declining, if I'm being most accurate here, and we've got increases in costs for everything," Lipski said.

Lipski made it clear at a community meeting Monday that losing station locations will stretch their already thin resources much thinner, increasing response times.

"Somebody has to fill in those thousands of calls. Those calls aren't going to go away in whatever area or areas we're talking about. Those calls aren't going to disappear," Lipski said. "I don't want the public to worry that we're not coming. We are coming, but there are limitations to the space and time we take up."

Chief Lipski told CBS 58 that he wants to continue this trend of public meetings to better integrate the department in the community.

The Milwaukee Fire Department will hold four more meetings on Wednesday, Oct. 12:

• From 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., meetings will be held at Station 30 and Station 12
• From 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., meetings will be held at Station 32 and Station 10