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ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) -- We all want the best fire protection that money can buy, but these days that protection has to come from very tight budgets.

On Thursday, the city of Ashland got a review from the same independent firm that analyzed Huntington’s fire department. And again -- it boiled down to budget.

Dr .Tim McGrath told the Ashland City Commission that his firm’s $18,000 review found that the fire department has an excellent strategic operation plan.

McGrath said his firm's 90 recommendations were opportunities to advance. Ashland city leaders agreed.

“As retirement systems go up along with general costs of operations, fuel costs and things like that - it's very important to have a plan,” Fire Chief Scott Penick said.

The review said Ashland’s one in four calls being false alarms was 130 percent above the national average - so a false alarm ordinance will be considered.

”We will respond to four alarms within a certain time period, after that there would be some type of penalty,” Chief Penick said.

But the chief also said he would not throw the owners “under the bus.”

The reviews recommended staffing was about the same as current levels.

The report showed that overall response time was good.
But, Ashland’s fire dept. budget is 95 percent salary, and only five percent operation, and all agree that ratio is not sustainable.

“It's something we'll have to address in future negotiations,"
Firefighters’ Union President Keith Salmon said.

The review found Ashland has not called for any mutual aid in three years, and should work closer with neighboring volunteer departments in case "the big one hits."

Chief Penick said that effort is already underway.