Residents upset over possible closure of Apex fire station

The director for the Wake County Fire Services said there will be a new fire station at U.S. Highway 401 and Ten-Ten Road, but the question is whether Fairview Station 2 should close once that happens.

The idea alone is not sitting well with some residents.

“We have heard nothing whatsoever about how many people will be affected negatively or how many people will be affected positively,” resident Doug Smith said.

Smith is opposed to the closing of Faiarview Fire Station 2 and his name was first on a long list of public commenters who shared his opinion at a Thursday night meeting.

“Right now, I’m at 12-and-a-half minutes [from the fire station] and when we go to this, I’m probably going to about 14 to 15,” he said.

Potential extended response time is one of the primary concerns among those opposed to the closure.

Ed Brinson, a 37 year fire department veteran, said closing the fire station isn’t the answer. He said, in his experience, a significant event typically precedes the decision to close a fire department, which isn’t the case in this situation.

“To close any fire station and to reduce the response capabilities of a fire district for the sake of funding the building and operational costs of a fire station from another fire district where the only fire protection needed is municipal in nature and the protection is .18 miles is unconscionable,” he said.

Mike Campasano with Wake County Fire Services said that if the Fairview Fire Station closes, it would not happen for at least two years. He also said that he received a letter in November 2016 from the Fairview Fire Department, describing their issues with recruiting, but there was never indication the station would close.