Fire Company Truck 10 “will remain open and in-service going forward,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced this afternoon, putting to rest one of the most contentious issues facing her administration.

Anger over the closing of Truck Company 15 and Squad 11 in July has sparked citizen protests as well as a City Council hearing, scheduled for next week, on the impact of the closings on public safety and the department’s fire response times.

Serving Harlem Park and other impoverished West Baltimore neighborhoods, Truck 10 was set to be closed on Monday, but the closure was put on hold late last week by Fire Chief James S. Clack.

According to the mayor’s statement, a recently received payment of about $500,000 in overdue admissions and amusement taxes from the 2011 Grand Prix race – plus $600,000 in tax receipts and fees expected from this year’s race – will be used to pay for the continued operation of Truck 10 through fiscal 2013.

The mayor also said that $300,000 in general funds budgeted for last month’s Grand Prix was not spent by the city – and this money was being allocated to the fire department.