| | Published January 30th, 2013
| MOFD Chief Has an Iron in the Fire
Station 43 + Station 16-Bradley will ask MOFD board to approve negotiations with ConFire
| | By Nick Marnell | | |
Moraga-Orinda Fire District Fire Chief Randall Bradley is in the early stages of pursuing a joint venture with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District to combine MOFD Fire Station 43 with the recently closed ConFire Station 16 on Los Arabis Drive in Lafayette. Bradley is hoping to receive approval to begin formal negotiations from the MOFD board of directors Feb. 6.
"We approached ConFire three years ago," said Bradley, "but they showed no interest in negotiating. Now, with the closure of their Station 16, it could happen."
MOFD's station 43 was set to undergo major renovations in the near future, but the bidding process has been put on hold while the proposed partnership is explored.
The two stations sit less than two miles apart. Bradley asserted that one station could be built between the two current fire stations. He is evaluating three possible locations-two in Lafayette and one in Orinda.
Bradley figures that $2 million will initially be saved by shutting down Station 43, selling the property, and splitting the $4 million cost of a new fire station with ConFire-MOFD has already budgeted $3 million for the retrofit of Station 43. Bradley also projects operational savings under the potential new arrangement.
"The bottom line is that the MOFD could save $1 million a year," concluded Bradley. "And even if this isn't going to be my fire station, it's the right thing to do."
MOFD Board President Frank Sperling confirmed that a discussion of options and recommendations resulting from the Station 16 closure will be an agenda item at the Feb. 6 MOFD board meeting. "A joint venture may very well be one of the chief's recommendations as I know that Chief Bradley and (ConFire) Chief Louder have been chatting."
The Feb. 6 meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Mosaic Room, Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Dr., Moraga.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA