Lewis Kamb is live Tweeting @lewiskamb as Tacoma department heads tell the city council what they are doing to make up for proposed cuts.

Fire Chief Ron Stephens has just told them that he will have to lose 44 positions and sideline four engine

companies, close two stations and stop staffing the fire boat.

The stations would be at 25th and Proctor and at 11th and East F streets in the Tideflats.

Stephens said two other fire stations — 4 at S. 12th Street in Hilltop and 11 at 38th and McKinley — will see reduced services in that they would lose their engine companies, but keep medical response units.

The four engine companies proposed for shutdown handle about 8,000 to 10,000 calls per year, Stephens said.

“I anticipate surrounding (engine) companies will have to meet that demand,” Stephens said of the 4 companies targeted for closure.