The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Philadelphia Brownout Discussion Gets Heated
WTFX
Reprinted with Permission
Top management and union officials get in a heated discussion over “rolling brownouts,” the selective temporary closure of Philadelphia firehouses to save money
Related
Since August 2, the Philadelphia Fire Department has been conducting rolling brownouts, with three companies closing each day shift and three closing each night shift.
The personnel from those companies are then moved to other in-service companies that need staff because someone is on leave.
The plan saves the cash-strapped city with $3.8 million in overtime expenses gone.
But critics call them, at best, an easy solution to a much bigger problem and a decision that will ultimately cost lives.
Bill Gault, the President of the Firefighters Union, and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers were on Fox 29 News at 10 to debate the topic, and the discussion got heated at times.
Gault says the city is playing Russian roulette with people’s lives because of the closures.
Ayers says a number of measures have increased public safety over the years and the city’s impact study has shown that a realignment of firefighting resources shows the job can be done with fewer people.
“We need to move forward,” Ayers said “There will less firefighters, less firehouses.”
Gault challenged Ayers to produce that research and called the city’s plan “smoke and mirrors.”
“The smoke and mirrors just aren’t there,” Ayers responded, saying that the brownouts have been used for awhile
“Personnel are being used in a different way. That’s why there’s crying now,” Ayers said.
“I really resent the word crying Commissioner,” Gault said. He said there was no redundancy in the city’s planning.
Reprinted with Permission
Top management and union officials get in a heated discussion over “rolling brownouts,” the selective temporary closure of Philadelphia firehouses to save money
Related
- Firehouse Discussion Gets Heated On TV
- Philadelphia Begins Rolling Closures
- Boy Dies In Philadelphia Fire; Closest Engine Company Closed
- Philadelphia Union Criticizes Timeline and City Policies
Since August 2, the Philadelphia Fire Department has been conducting rolling brownouts, with three companies closing each day shift and three closing each night shift.
The personnel from those companies are then moved to other in-service companies that need staff because someone is on leave.
The plan saves the cash-strapped city with $3.8 million in overtime expenses gone.
But critics call them, at best, an easy solution to a much bigger problem and a decision that will ultimately cost lives.
Bill Gault, the President of the Firefighters Union, and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers were on Fox 29 News at 10 to debate the topic, and the discussion got heated at times.
Gault says the city is playing Russian roulette with people’s lives because of the closures.
Ayers says a number of measures have increased public safety over the years and the city’s impact study has shown that a realignment of firefighting resources shows the job can be done with fewer people.
“We need to move forward,” Ayers said “There will less firefighters, less firehouses.”
Gault challenged Ayers to produce that research and called the city’s plan “smoke and mirrors.”
“The smoke and mirrors just aren’t there,” Ayers responded, saying that the brownouts have been used for awhile
“Personnel are being used in a different way. That’s why there’s crying now,” Ayers said.
“I really resent the word crying Commissioner,” Gault said. He said there was no redundancy in the city’s planning.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Robert J. Haig on
-
Want to see a third world country. Look at Detroit. Under former mayor Coleman Young these were the same tactics his political appointed running jackals suggested to save money. I can remember being first on the scene at a fire next to closed Eng 4. I pulled out a dead six year old little girl. To this day I hold those damn bean counters responsible. It is easy to close Fire Stations. It is impossible to bring back a life.
Bob Haig
Retired Captain Ladder 13, DFD
-
Permalink Reply by tonyg101 on
-
Every city plays this game with their FD. Even when not if, lives are lost, it's all a money game. So many lives lost against how much we saved. It's always weighed, how much per life lost, was the money we saved. When lives are lost, it's never the fault of the cuts in manpower, or in this case brownouts. It's always that life would have been lost anyway. Circumstances beyond our control.
-
-
As i carried that dead six year old out of the fire ,I was met by a reporter. I laid her death on the Mayor. His reply on the evening news was, "People die in fires every day." I guess you are right. It still galls me.
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
