SCHENECTADY Firefighters fear budget cuts will be dangerous BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
When a building catches fire next year, fi refighters fear that there may not be enough of them on duty to save it. Overtime limitations in the department’s 2010 budget will force it to operate with fewer than 20 fi refighters on duty at times. In such circumstances, firefighters may have to fight defensively — spraying water from outside and keeping the fire from spreading to other buildings — while they wait for reinforcements, they said. Union President David Orr called the limitations disastrous. He came to Monday’s City Council meeting with more than 20 fi refighters, all of whom stood to support Orr’s contention that next year’s budget will put the city at risk. Chief Robert Farstad later downplayed the risk, saying that he would call for help from other fi re departments as well as call in city firefighters on overtime if he didn’t have enough staff to handle a major fire. But he also said he didn’t like the limitations. The city needs more than 20 fi refighters on duty at once, he said. Even though more firefighters can arrive a few minutes after the department calls for extra help, Orr noted that fires spread rapidly. During the critical early stage, he said, fi refighters say their rule of thumb is that the blaze doubles in size every two minutes. “Our job is a job of minutes and seconds. If you don’t have the number of people you need to fight the fire right at the beginning, the fire can get away from you and become much worse,” Orr said. “If we have to wait for mutual aid or additional resources to arrive, it may be too late.” Farstad said he doesn’t like it any more than Orr does. “We were ordered to bring in a 10 percent [budget] cut. We don’t like it, but we’re going to do the best we can,” he said. “We’ve said we need more than 20 people per day, but we also understand we’re part of the solution.” ..............................>>>>......................>>>>>................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00902&AppName=1
It was stated in the Nov. 25 Daily Gazette that fi refighters fear proposed budget cuts will be dangerous. I myself oppose the proposed cuts in the fire department overtime. What will happen if fewer than 20 firemen are on duty? Will a house have to burn fi rst to make our city elected officials realize that no cuts should occur in the city public safety departments? Will it also jeopardize Schenectady city residents getting fire insurance on property they own? Will insurance companies simply cancel fire insurance on property in Schenectady because of inadequate fi re protection? Only time will tell, but it does appear when budget cuts are made in the city, they usually hit the fire department hard. I can only hope our elected officials reconsider making those cuts.
If the City Council had done the right thing and canned the Erie Boulevard fiasco there would have been money to retain the current level of Fire Department staffing. Police and fire are not as high a priority as throwing grease around. Nothing is as sacred as the deal.
Just like Saratoga. If they cut spending, these municipalities wouldn't be in this situation. And if these municipalities didn't sign unsustainable union contracts just to garner votes, public safety wouldn't have to be cut.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
If the City Council had done the right thing and canned the Erie Boulevard fiasco there would have been money to retain the current level of Fire Department staffing. Police and fire are not as high a priority as throwing grease around. Nothing is as sacred as the deal.
