As concerned west-end residents grilled Toronto’s fire chief about proposed cuts, Mayor Rob Ford tried to douse controversy over the planned closure of Runnymede station.

Ford used his weekly Newstalk 1010 radio show to downplay the impact of closing the west-end fire station — a measure in the city’s 2013 budget plan.

In order to cut $12.7 million from the fire department’s budget, fire officials want to close the 426 Runnymede Rd. “Pumper 424” firehouse, located between Bloor and Annette Sts.

Ford said Sunday he wanted to “clear the air” over the budgets proposed for the Toronto fire and EMS departments.

“The tax and spenders are going to say we’re eliminating jobs, which is not true, (and) we are shutting down fire stations. We’re building four new fire stations. We’re replacing firefighters’ bunker suits, defibrillators and portable radios and we’re replacing radio communications systems that are shared by EMS, police and fire.”

Councillor Sarah Doucette held a public meeting Sunday afternoon to give residents a chance to question Fire Chief Jim Sales about the closure.

“They’re frustrated; they’re furious,” she said, adding she was unable to go public with the information until Friday.

“Why are we not being transparent, why are we not informing residents in advance that they are losing a life-saving service?”

One attendee asked if the decision was a service cut or an efficiency.

“I don’t think you can shrink yourself to greatness,” Sales replied. “Getting smaller isn’t getting better. What we’re trying to do is tighten our belts and do the best job we can.”

NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo asked Sales what role the province could play, insisting “this is dangerous stuff.”

The budget committee continues mulling over the 2013 budget Monday.