It was a night of handshakes, hugs and hamburgers that lingered into the dawn’s early light as A Shift of Truck Company 15 finished its final shift at 7 o’clock this morning.

A victim of budget cuts that will claim two other Baltimore fire companies, the men of A Shift said their farewells to colleagues and residents at this municipal outpost of the otherwise neglected Berea neighborhood.

With a history dating back to 1908, the much-decorated fire company at 1223 North Montford Ave. is scheduled to be disbanded on Sunday, its 22 firefighters scattered to other companies and its long, red “hook and ladder” placed in city surplus.

Last night, members of other fire companies came by the station to pay their respects. There was a backyard cookout, interrupted by A Shift tearing out of the station on what became a series of calls.

Several community people also stopped by to exchange stories of fires fought and acts of heroism that are liable to die as the company fades into history.

“You’ve saved many lives here,” said a couple who composed a homemade “thank you” card to the firefighters.

“We did what we could to get you guys to stay, and we feel like we failed, but in our hearts you guys will always be held,” the couple (who did not want to be identified) continued.

“We’re gonna miss you guys! All we know is Hotel Montford,” the card added, referring to the station’s nickname.

Stuart Nathan, former president of the Board of Fire Commissioners, made it a point to come by the station last night.

“I’m here because of the respect I have for the people who worked here. This company is legendary. It’s been here for 100 years, serving this neighborhood with incredible dedication.”

“That,” he added sadly, “is something you can’t easily replace.”

Along with Truck 10 in West Baltimore’s Harlem Park and Squad 11 in Greektown/Bayview. Truck 15 is a victim of cuts in the 2013 budget that were approved on Monday by the City Council.

Many city councilmen initially voiced opposition to the fire cuts, but not enough of them supported City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young’s attempt to force Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to compromise.

[For the record, Councilman Warren Branch, whose district is served by Truck 15, voted for Young’s plan to restore funds for the fire department. Councilmen William “Pete” Welch (Truck 10) and James B. Kraft (Squad 11) voted against the Young plan.]

Fair But Tough Decision

Following Monday’s final vote ratifying the new budget, Mayor Rawlings-Blake appeared before the media to laud the passage of what she called a tough but fair plan.

Permanently closing the three companies will save the city less than $1 million in a $2.3 billion budget – and perhaps as little as $750,000 since none of the displaced firefighters will suffer a salary reduction – but Rawlings-Blake nevertheless said the move was necessary.

The big difference, she said, was that fire equipment “is still in play” with rotating closures. Following the three permanent closures on July 1, “the equipment is not in play.”

The firefighters union fought against the closures, saying they will jeopardize citizen safety.

“The city simply can’t afford any closures. The fire chief himself said two years ago we were at bare bones. What does that make us now?” asked Michael Campbell, president of Baltimore Fire Officers Association Local 964.

Who Will Respond to Some 8,000 Calls?

Fire Chief James Clack told the City Council that he supported the permanent closures, saying they were preferable to rotating closures and would not compromise public safety.

As a result of the budget cuts, Engine Company 33 will be transferred to the Montford firehouse to replace disbanded Truck 15.

This will leave the firehouse at 25th Street and Kirk Ave., the former home of Engine 33, with one rather than two companies.

Last night, firefighters who stopped by the station wondered how the department will absorb the 8,000 calls that the three closed fire companies handled this year.

Cold Hamburgers

Truck 15 is the city’s busiest ladder company. Last year, it responded to 3,556 calls. As of late last night, the company had reached 4,040 runs for fiscal year 2012 – a record.

Along with responding to major fires, such as the June 11 blaze in Fells Point that engulfed a supermarket building, Truck 15 handles a huge number of “routine” calls from neighborhoods that have few institutions and limited public services.

For A Shift last night that meant responding to an auto accident with injuries on East Federal St., taking an elderly resident with chest pains to Johns Hopkins Hospital, responding to what turned out to be a faulty CO detector and rescuing four people stuck in an elevator.

On their way back from the calls, the crew spotted a trash-can fire. They put it out before it spread.

By the time they got back to the station, their hamburgers were cold.
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THE BREW’S IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF FIRE COMPANY CONTROVERSY:

Less than $1 million would be saved from fire company closings
Mayor’s aide called on counties to help contain Fells Point fire
What the neighbors and numbers say about losing Ladder Truck 15
Set-to-shut fire company praised for rescuing children in burning building
Indians, but no chief at fire closing hearings
Fire company that treated stabbed baby set to be disbanded
Councilman proposes selling ads on the sides of fire trucks