Brownouts: Rolling reductions in staffing called risky.

In a plan that no one wants to implement, the Los Angeles Fire Department will begin service "brownouts" on Thursday unless there is a breakthrough in bargaining.

The plan, developed by the Fire Department to cover a $39 million budget shortfall, will scale back service by eliminating 28 crews around the city at any given time.

"We are doing this now so we don't have to make deeper cuts later," said Council President Eric Garcetti. "None of us want to do this, but we only have so much money to go around."

Under the program, 87 fewer firefighters will be on duty every day, reducing overall daily deployment from 1,104 to 1,017. That means eliminating the staffing for one battalion command team, three Emergency Medical Services battalion offices, 15 fire companies and nine ambulances.

"The key for us is that no stations will be closed," Deputy Chief Emilio Mack told the City Council this week. "No fire stations are closed and we are maintaining all our paramedic ambulances.

"And the overall flexibility of the plan is that if a pot of gold should descend on us, we will be able to immediately reverse it and put people back on duty."

The reductions will be rotated depending on conditions. For example, the department will continue to provide coverage in brush areas during the coming summer months.

In addition, the department will have only one recruit class this coming year, allowing it to train and replace those firefighters who leave the department.

But Pat McOsker, head of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, said the plan is similar to one in place in 1991. During a brownout, a Hollywood woman had a heart attack and nearly died while waiting for paramedics.

"This will extend response times," McOsker said. "That means people will die. We are concerned about public safety and firefighter safety with these cuts."

Part of the problem has been a behind-the-scenes dispute over a new contract for the firefighters set against a backdrop of the economic problems facing the city.

The LAFD budget for this year is $521 million, down from last year's budget of $575 million.

McOsker said his proposals, which he claims would close most of the $39 million gap, have been rebuffed by the city. Without providing any details, he said UFLAC has offered to forgo raises and has other proposals on the table that the city has rejected.

McOsker said the city offers he has received would mean drastic cuts in pay for the youngest and newest firefighters.

City officials would not discuss specifics of their proposals but said it involves givebacks by the unions involving certain bonuses and other pay.

Even if the union and the city do come to an agreement before Thursday - when the next deployment period begins - the city will have to reduce the department's service level.

Matt Szabo, a spokesman for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said time is of the essence in the talks.

"The mayor is hopeful that reductions can be avoided if we get an agreement with the union," Szabo said. "The earlier we get an agreement, the less damaging it will be.

"This is not something the mayor wants to do, but there is no choice if we are to balance the budget."

Councilman Bernard Parks, chairman of the council's Budget and Finance Committee, said there will have to be some reductions.

"In reality, we are talking about making up $58 million," Parks said. "That will not be covered by what we have on the table."

Garcetti said the problem is real.

"I am convinced this is not a negotiating tactic," Garcetti said. "We are facing severe financial problems and have to do this."

The new plan has prompted a number of rumors around the city about the impact of the plan as well as heated City Council debate over the cuts.

New Councilman Paul Koretz prompted much of the heat two weeks ago, when he said it appeared to him the budget took a "meat ax" approach to making cuts.

His colleagues quickly took him to task, reminding him that Los Angeles is a different world from Sacramento, where he previously served as an assemblyman.

"We don't have anyone to pass it on to," said Councilman Tony Cardenas, also a former assemblyman. "Sorry, we don't have that privilege. This is not about LAFD alone. The consequences of this are keeping Los Angeles out of bankruptcy."

Parks noted the Police and Fire department budgets account for $1.6 billion of the city's general fund budget, leaving only about $700 million for all other city programs.

"There are lots of programs I would like to see funded," Parks said. "I would like to see every alley in the city paved, but we can't afford that."