Tight budget forces Columbia fire department to shuffle firefighters

COLUMBIA — The tight budget for fiscal 2010 will force the Columbia Fire Department to occasionally shift workers from Fire Station No. 2 to Fire Station No. 9, which is being built at 210 Blue Ridge Road.

The engine company of Station No. 2 on West Worley Street will be shut down when 35 or fewer firefighters are on duty, and staff will be transferred to Station No. 9. The ladder company will remain available at Station No. 2 when this happens, according to Fire Chief Bill Markgraf’s presentation at last Monday's Columbia City Council budget work session.