Media Release

Vanguard, A Community Accountability Watchdog

501(c)(3)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE USE Til____Oct 15, 07_______TFN__________ Evergreen________	CONTACT: Barry Allen –818 243 1502 Vanguard -- POB 11202 -- Glendale CA 91226 Vanguard1@Charter.net
DATE: September 24, 2007
HEADLINE: A New Model for Municipal Fire Protection
Summary: For many years municipal fire departments have become a financial burden on cities and other urban areas. As more buildings include fire resistant materials, sprinklers and other safeguards, the fire departments have been adding more fire suppression personnel instead of paramedics. Retired Pasadena Police Chief Bruce Philpott presents a new methodology that is the result of 12 years of analysis, discussion and research with fire department.
Body: Glendale, CA For the next six weeks Retired Pasadena Police Chief Bruce Philpott will be presenting to the Glendale City Council and the public a new model for Municipal Fire Departments that can make them more cost effective while improving and increasing the services they render. Philpott and his associates in the fire services throughout California have been working on this model for over 12 years, studying the data, much of which was obtained through the California Public Records Act, to determine the effectiveness of the current model that has been in effect for decades and has not taken into consideration the evolving needs. Emergency Medical Services in Glendale are requested almost 9 times to one for fire suppression needs, yet the emphasis is on firefighters instead of paramedics. Using the Oral Communications portion of the City Council agenda, Chief Philpott will speak to the issues while using a PowerPoint presentation that will be online at a later time. His model will culminate in a methodology that can save Glendale about $15,000,000 annually when adopted and increase services while reducing response times, which are a critical measure of fire service. If adopted nationally the amount would be billions in savings. Philpott anticipates considerable disagreement with the new model by the firefighters local and national unions that will be watching the presentation on the City of Glendale website, http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/video_archives.asp .

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Background: www.vanguardians.org

Philpott Contact 818 240 8949

Our vision is to live in a community where all people, regardless of geography, background or economic status, can enjoy accountability, integrity, effectiveness and responsiveness from our elected officials and each of the city's departments, through grass roots involvement, engagement and advocacy.