Raytheon Missile Systems will close its in-house fire department in Tucson next week, and the Tucson Fire Department will take over fire service.
The fire station is at the company’s airport site, which was annexed by the city in 2009.
At the time, it was too complicated to include fire service in the negotiations, said Tucson Fire Chief Jim Critchley.
The Tucson City Council on Tuesday approved a five-year service agreement, which had been in the works since late 2013.
“A thorough evaluation found that housing Tucson Fire Department crews on our plant site made more business sense than maintaining our own fire department,” Raytheon spokesman John Patterson said. “Employee safety is our top priority, and we anticipate no change in the level of service.”
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Raytheon will pay the city $1.3 million a year for fire and emergency medical services staff and training, and the company will give all of its firefighting gear, including two fire engines, to the city. The price goes up to $1.4 million a year in 2018.
“Raytheon is paying full freight for it,” Critchley said. “It’s not costing us anything.”
The fire station will become Tucson Fire Station No. 23, with four-person crews working in three shifts.
The firefighters will study the chemicals and processes used at the factory and will conduct emergency preparedness drills.
Eight of the 17 Raytheon fire employees will join the Tucson Fire Department.
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@tucson.com or 573-4346. On Twitter: @BeckyPallack
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