Study Suggests Closing 6 of 29 Pittsburgh Fire Stations

A study paid for by the state board that oversees Pittsburgh’s finances suggests closing six of the city’s 29 fire stations.

The draft report says the stations should be closed over the next decade, but only if the city first tears down abandoned buildings and reduces the number of fires.

Public Safety Director Michael Huss says he agrees with some of the findings, but says the city is far from making final decisions.

The study found that response times increased only minimally after six stations were closed in 2005.

The fire bureau is the city’s second most expensive unit, costing $49 million this year, down from $60 million in 2004.