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Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

Hey, elected official!

I know the economy is in the dumps, the teabag revolution is morphing, and it is politically rewarding to slash the budgets across the board, no matter the true cost.

Quick question for ‘ya:  What will it take to find a way to bring costs down without killing us, your so-called heroes?

Let’s review what you’ve accomplished for us so far:

In order to save money, you have cut mandated the closure of one of our stations, meaning that I now arrive a little later then I used to, and my help may be a little farther out than it used to be.  The fire has a head start, the dangers of a catastrophic fire event occurring while I’m inside has increased with the delay.  And when I need help in getting out, or help in getting one of your constituents out, my assistance will be running just a tad later than usual.

Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

In order to save money, you have taken one person away from my crew, depleting my immediate manpower needs by 25-50%.  I have to do the job of 1 1/2 people just as quickly as before.  What are the chances I will have to take shortcuts or make a mistake in order to perform outside my abilities due to your cuts?  I am now less protected, and we are all less effective on the fireground.

Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

In order to save money, you have postponed the replacement of my 13-year old apparatus, you’ve refused to replace retiring personnel, and you’ve frozen funds for training.

Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

You’re a politician, but I am a firefighter. I fight fires, I protect property and I save lives. I am asked to do more and more with less and less. And I’m just barely hanging in there as you continue to cut and slash.

It sucks.

I’m doing all I can in my power to make sure my Chief and a chaplain don’t knock at my door. All I want is to fight fires, protect property, save lives and go home to my wife and kids after my shift has ended.

God help you if I don’t, because my wife and kids will come knocking at yours.

Posted in Change, Funding & Staffing, Staffing, WTF?

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Posted by on November 19, 2009 • 7 comments

There. We admitted it. So what?

Grand Rapids (MI) has been hit hard once again.  The city has decided to layoff 44 policeman, 25 firefighters, and dozens of other public sector jobs.

That’s scary.

2 complete fire companies will be nixxed.  Response times will go up.  Citizens and firefighters will be less safe and more prone to injury and worse.

It’s a broken record; a scene played out daily across the United States.

In Milwaukee last month, hundreds of firefighters jammed the city council budget meeting openly denouncing the effort to cut public safety funding.

One firefighter asked the council “how much are you willing to pay to have me pull you out of your burning home?”

When these scenes arise, they make for good TV, and the Milwaukee media covered them like a blanket.

These protests are seen all over the nation, with firefighters demanding politicians to admit that the level of public safety will be reduced due to the cuts.

Usually, the pols insist the city can do just fine, hissing “we will get through this, (insert city name here) will emerge stronger and better than ever!”  We all know it’s a “less than truthful” response.

With less people serving the public safety, the level of service declines.  You just can’t argue that.  But they do.

However, we seem to have turned a corner today with the announcement of the massive slice ‘n dice scheduled for Grand Rapids just after Christmas.

City Manager Greg Sundstrom  conceded the cuts “bring our staffing levels to dangerously low levels.”

“Dangerously low levels.”

Finally, a public official making a concession that firefighters across the nation have been trying to get them to admit.

“Dangerously low levels.”

OK then.  There.

Now what?

Now that we’ve reached the point where we can all agree that cutting public safety is “dangerous’”, will the local taxpayer have accepted such practice as a necessary evil?

Because “dangerously low levels” is evil.

And in my opinion, utterly unacceptable.

Posted in News, Staffing, WTF?

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Posted by on November 10, 2009 • 4 comments

Another Example: Size Really Does Matter…

Brand new ladder truck? A cool million.

Price to certify staff to drive it? $100,000

Price to build a new station because it won’t fit inside the ones you have? Priceless.

The Clarksville (IN) Fire Department must be doing a collective face palm.

After taking delivery of their beautiful new ladder truck, they were confronted with a problem. It was too big to fit in any of their stations.

OK. Think.

Eureka! Apparently the only station large enough to house the new apparatus was their Station 3, so they raised the door to fit it in. Problem solved.

Or not.

You see, Station 3 is staffed by volunteers with this combination department. None of the volunteers are currently “qualified” to drive the monster.

OK. Think.

“We’re trying to go the cheapest route,” said Clarksville Town Councilman Don Tetley, a liaison between the council and the department. So, earlier this month, the Clarksville Redevelopment Commission approved spending up to $100,000.00 to contract with the neighboring McCullough Volunteer Fire Department in order to have a qualified driver there 24/7.

But that’s not all.

Rick Dickman (his real name, I checked) weighed in on the size issue.

Dickman, Clarksville Redevelopment Director, noted that the size problem won’t be long-lasting an issue much longer for long.  That problem will be licked solved when a proposed new firehouse — to replace nearly 40-year old Station No. 2 – is erected built.

Ahh. Now it seems to make more sense…

Stay Stoked!

-J

Posted in In Da House, News, Staffing, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, WTF?

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Posted by on November 7, 2009 • 3 comments

Milwaukee Firefighters Jam City Hall

video courtesy WISN Milawaukee

Posted in Brotherhood, Staffing

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Posted by on October 14, 2009 • No comments

Arbitrator Rules Against City of Lockport NY

Firefighter StaffingStaffing Levels Unsafe

FirefightingNews.com is reporting that an arbitrator has ruled against the City of Lockport, NY in a legal battle with the Lockport Professional Firefighters Association.

The arbitrator ruled that the city had violated its agreement with the LPFFA by failing to maintain a safe level of staffing. The city has vowed to challenge the ruling, and the case may ultimately end up at the state Supreme Court.

The specifics of this long-running battle are worth a peek. The plot may sound familiar to many of you. Read the full article here.

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Posted in Staffing

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Posted by on October 11, 2009 • No comments