? Woodlawn taxpayers and a community fire safety committee took their fight to keep Ladder 39 open to the steps of City Hall Thursday.

The fire commissioner has issued a 45-day closure notice for the firehouse. Officials say they do not know if the deteriorating building will be rebuilt or if the move to a nearby location will be permanent. Woodlawn homeowners say Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R-NYC) promised two years ago to keep Ladder 39 open. They want him to keep that promise. They fear response times will increase, putting homeowners at risk. Advocates say they have tried, unsuccessfully, to get the fire commissioner and mayor to respond to their letters and concerns.

Firefighters from Ladder 39 will move less than a mile away to a Wakefield firehouse.