Because of the proposal to cut ambulance service from fire station 8, the Porter Ranch Police, Fire, & Safety Committee met with firefighters from stations 8 & 28 on March 6, 2010 to better understand the fire and rescue services in Porter Ranch. The board then sent the following letter to Councilman Greig Smith.

PRNC Letter to Councilman Smith requesting maintenance of Porter Ranch Ambulance - March 8, 2010

As a result of the concern expressed to Councilman Smith by the PRNC and other councils, the City Council postponed the decision. Councilman Smith noted that the proposed cuts during the evening hours are when 40% of the ambulance calls come in. The LA Times reports that he said, "That is not acceptable" and asked to have the proposed revised.

The PRNC received an email from Councilman Smith's Chief of Staff Mitch Englander:

I've been speaking to Pat Pope (both yesterday and today) and let him know that your letter came in loud and clear. Councilman Smith couldn't agree more and today co-authored a motion to send it back to committee to come up with other options and not allow the taking of any BLS ambulance support at any of the stations. The working group will collaborate with LAFD and look to different options that were also presented today in Council.

Thank you again for taking a quick and deliberate position on this critical issue.

At the PRNC meeting on March 9, 2010 Battalion Chief Biggs explained response times and answered questions by the board and stakeholders.