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We Stand AGAINST Annexation on August 20th Ballot Question
The Perils of Annexation & An Understaffed Fire Rescue Service
The safety of Coral Gables residents is on the brink of a crisis, one that becomes even more terrifying when you consider the broader implications of the city’s current leadership decisions. While the Coral Gables Fire Department (CGFD) holds the prestigious ISO Class 1 rating (like all five other fire departments in Miami-Dade), the reality behind the scenes tells a different story—
a story of dangerous understaffing, inadequate resources, and a growing dependence on the goodwill of neighboring fire departments. And now, with Mayor Vince Lago’s push to expand the boundaries of Coral Gables through annexation, these issues are poised to become even more dire. Countless more lives will be at risk.
The Realities of Understaffing
As it stands, CGFD operates with only 33 firefighters—a number woefully insufficient to meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards required for high-rise fire response. The NFPA 1710 standard mandates that 43 firefighters be on the scene to effectively manage a high rise fire. In contrast, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) meets and exceeds this standard, operating daily with over 500 firefighters, and dispatching 45 firefighters initially and sending an additional 15 if a building fire is confirmed. Coral Gables, however, is dangerously dependent on MDFR and the City of Miami Fire Rescue to fill these gaps; CGFD is entirely dependent upon mutual aid to meet even the minimum requirements.
This shortfall is not just a matter of numbers on a spreadsheet—it is a direct threat to the lives of every resident in Coral Gables. The ability of a fire department to respond effectively in an emergency is often the difference between life and death. Seconds count when a fire breaks out, particularly in high-rise buildings where fires can spread rapidly, and the challenges of evacuation are multiplied by the height and complexity of the structure. With only 33 firefighters, CGFD simply does not have the manpower to address the current challenge posed by 120 high-rises in the city, not to mention the 30 more under consideration. It is not a matter of if, but when, lives will be needlessly lost, and homes will be destroyed because of Mayor Lago’s myopic focus on development while turning a blind eye to public safety.
The Hazards of Overreliance on Mutual Aid
CGFD’s inability to provide an all-hazards response further endangers Coral Gables residents. Fire departments are now expected to respond to a wide array of emergencies, and readiness is key to swift intervention. Unlike MDFR, which staffs specialized teams 24/7/365 and maintains equipment ready to immediately respond to a wide range of emergencies, CGFD falls short in numerous critical areas. Coral Gables residents are being deliberately misled into a false sense of security. CGFD purchases new apparatus and boasts about life-saving capabilities in headlines yet refuses to dedicate personnel to respond. It’s a shell game, and one that should be exposed. Here are just a few such examples:
- Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Response: Hazardous materials incidents, whether they involve chemical spills, gas leaks, or biological hazards, require immediate and specialized attention. MDFR and the City of Miami maintain dedicated HazMat teams that are trained and equipped to handle these high-risk situations. However, CGFD lacks its
own HazMat response unit entirely. This means that if a hazardous materials incident occurs within Coral Gables, residents must wait for outside assistance, often leading to critical delays. In situations where hazardous substances are involved, delayed response times can exacerbate the severity of the incident, increasing the risk of harm to both residents and first responders.
- Technical Rescue Operations: Technical rescue encompasses a broad range of emergency scenarios, including vehicle extrications, building collapses, confined space rescues, and high-angle rescues. These are complex and dangerous operations that require specialized training, equipment, and personnel. While MDFR and the City of Miami have dedicated technical rescue teams, CGFD does not staff one. In Coral Gables, technical rescue operations are either handled by cross-staffed units—meaning the same personnel responsible for fire suppression may be tasked with these intricate rescues— or by waiting for mutual aid from neighboring departments. This delay in specialized response capabilities can be catastrophic in situations where individuals are trapped or critically injured.
- Water Rescue and Marine Response: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue maintains fully staffed fire boats and teams of divers specifically trained for water rescues and near-drownings. These resources are essential for protecting lives along the Coral Gables coastline and in Biscayne Bay. In contrast, CGFD’s waterside response is anemic at best. The department is again forced to rely on cross-staffing, where the same limited number of firefighters may be called upon to handle land-based emergencies and water rescues simultaneously. This not only stretches their capabilities thin but also creates dangerous delays in situations where every second counts, such as in near-drowning incidents or fires on boats or waterfront properties.
Annexation: A Risk We Can’t Afford
Despite these glaring deficiencies that endanger residents and firefighters alike, Mayor Vince Lago is pushing forward with plans to annex additional areas into Coral Gables, areas that are currently served by MDFR. This move, likely driven by the interests of developers, would stretch CGFD’s already thin resources even further. To further demonstrate this intent, the City of Coral Gables, at taxpayer’s expense, paid for a private consultant, Dover Kohl, to identify the highest and best use for the mobile home site owned by a private corporation. The consultant’s recommendation was a five-story development called Moorish Village. The proposed annexation would increase the geographic area, adding an additional 205 acres and boosting the population by 3,500 residents immediately, for which an already understaffed CGFD would be responsible. Further high-rise development, such as the Moorish Village along the 8th Street corridor, would only exacerbate the danger. Even with the addition of a new fire station and hiring five more firefighters as part of the proposed annexation, the national standard will not be met by a Miracle Mile. The result? An even greater reliance on external aid, leading to longer response times, and a heightened risk to everyone.
Mayor Lago and other proponents of annexation have attempted to dismiss these critical concerns, framing them as mere union tactics designed to obstruct the expansion effort. However, this narrative is not only misleading—it is dangerously deceptive. The issues raised by CGFD’s staffing levels and resource limitations are not union ploys; they are life-and-death realities that directly impact the safety of Coral Gables residents.
A United Call to Action
Fire unions across Miami-Dade County, including the Presidents from Coral Gables’ own union, the Miami-Dade County union, and the City of Miami union, have united to issue a stern warning about the dangers of annexation under the current conditions. In a jointly signed letter to Mayor
Lago, these union leaders made it clear that no one wins if annexation is approved—not the unions, not the firefighters, and certainly not the residents of Coral Gables. Expanding the city’s boundaries without first addressing the severe deficiencies in CGFD’s capabilities would only stretch resources even thinner, shifting an even greater burden onto neighboring fire departments that have invested responsibly in their emergency response infrastructure.
This letter is not an act of obstruction; it is a call to action. It is a plea from those who understand the stakes better than anyone—those who risk their lives every day to protect the public. The unified stance of these unions underscores a simple truth: annexation, under the current circumstances, is not just risky—it is reckless. It endangers the lives of Coral Gables residents by further straining an already overburdened fire department and increasing the likelihood that, in an emergency, help will arrive too late.
The residents of Coral Gables must recognize that this is not an abstract debate or a political game. This is about their safety, their homes, and their families. The ISO Class 1 rating may look impressive on paper, but it is meaningless if the fire department behind it is unable to meet the basic standards required to protect the community. Annexation will only intensify these problems, spreading already scarce resources even thinner and putting more lives in jeopardy.
Stand Up Now for Your Safety
Coral Gables residents must demand accountability from their leaders and insist on real investments in their fire department before any expansion is considered. The safety of the community should never be sacrificed for the sake of development. The potential for disaster is too great, and the consequences too severe, to remain silent. It is time for the people of Coral Gables to take a stand and ensure that their city prioritizes their safety above all else, before it is too late.
Hold Mayor Lago and the City Commission accountable. They must be reminded that their primary responsibility is to the safety and well-being of their constituents, not to developers looking to expand the city’s footprint. The people of Coral Gables must demand that their fire department is given the tools, resources, and staffing levels necessary to provide the protection they expect and deserve. Anything less is unacceptable, and anything less is a betrayal of the public trust.
In the end, it is the residents of Coral Gables who will pay the price if this issue is not addressed. It is their lives, their homes, and their families that are at risk. They must not wait for a tragedy to occur before action is taken. The time to demand better is now, before a preventable disaster forces us all to confront the consequences of inaction.
Take Action Now!
As residents of Coral Gables, you have the power to shape the future of your community and ensure that your safety is not compromised by shortsighted decisions. Take the following actions:
- The first step is to vote against any further annexation until the critical issues within the Coral Gables Fire Department are addressed. Expansion without the necessary resources to support it will only endanger more lives.
- Take a few moments to write and email your city commissioners. Demand the quality of fire service you were promised when you were told that your CGFD is a Class 1 ISO department. Insist that your fire department meets the bare minimum staffing levels as set forth in the NFPA 1710 standard. Your voice matters, and your elected officials must hear it loud and clear. They need to know that the safety of Coral Gables residents is not negotiable and that they must prioritize investments in fire and emergency services over any plans for expansion.
Your actions today can prevent tomorrow’s tragedy. Stand up for your safety and demand the fire protection that you and your family deserve. Vote on August 20th against annexation and email Mayor Lago and your commissioners!
Sincerely,
David Perez, President William A. McAllister IV, President Coral Gables Professional Firefighters Metro-Dade Firefighters IAFF Local 1210 IAFF Local 1403
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