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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter - Please read and give me your comments if you can
Hi guys, I just completed this last night and sent it to the news hoping we get resident participation. If anyone has the time, can you please offer comments. Thank you, your favorite rookie
I am a concerned resident of Morris Township. In the upcoming township meeting on Wednesday, April 21st, the Township Committee is considering the elimination of our Fire Inspection and Prevention Bureau. The intention is to employ private companies to conduct fire inspections throughout the township instead. This action would cause our two certified fire inspectors to be demoted. Another action being considered is the laying off of two career firefighters which would decrease the already slim daytime support in our firehouses. Oftentimes only one career firefighter mans a firehouse during the weekday; further job eliminations would increase the risk of potential danger to town residents, including the elderly, children, property, and business owners.
The Morris Township Fire Department is made up of 20 career firefighters as well as volunteers. The department operates five fire stations around the township with a total of eight apparatuses. All of the career firefighters are certified as Emergency Medical Technicians, and respond to fire suppression, rescue operations (including highways, roadways, and the airport), and medical emergencies.
Our township fire inspectors investigate fire code violations, fire hazards and incidents; enforce code compliance; check hydrants, sprinkler systems, and buildings which contain flammable and volatile materials; bill and collect fines on behalf of the township; and inspect homes, businesses, and our schools. They are familiar with the architecture, floor plans, and fire prevention systems in place at all of the large corporations, vacant buildings, museums, schools, nursing and county facilities, and new businesses in the township. They also work closely with the Fire Chief to communicate safety issues and concerns to the firefighters.
Surely it is more practical and efficient to preserve their positions instead of replacing them with companies unfamiliar with the structures they are expected to inspect and protect. By enlisting an outside source to conduct fire inspections, they are relegating safety concerns to those that are unfamiliar with town operations. Do you trust an outside agency would be proactive in ensuring all codes are adhered to and violations are followed up in a timely manner? I certainly do not. Will it take years for a new company’s learning curve? What happens in the meantime?
It seems more cost-effective to me to continue to employ a tried and true method than hire companies which know nothing of the past history and conditions of our commercial and residential properties.
Let’s not create an anomaly by cutting necessary services for the sake of saving money. Instead, I ask that the Township Committee examine other ways to decrease spending while safeguarding the proven services of a diligent and reliable team of fire inspectors and firefighters.
Please stand alongside other residents and myself and attend the 8:00 p.m. meeting on Wednesday, April 21st at the Morris Township Municipal Complex, 50 Woodland Avenue, Morris Township. I am sure you will agree that the safety and welfare of the families, homes, and buildings in Morris Township should be a top priority for our township officials.
Denise M. Imperiale, Morris Township Resident and Parent
Add a Comment
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Comment by Foley&son on June 3, 2010 at 11:29pm
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cost effective ;its from a mind of someone who never as been in a hot hallway ! lol you said it welfare safety.you dont what you got till its gone!
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Comment by Denise Imperiale on April 19, 2010 at 6:22pm
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Hi thank you for your comments!!! The reason I didn't put I was a firefighter was because I am able to post this as a private citizen and not as a member of the fire department. Little red tape, but whatever I can do to help these great guys is important to me. Thanks!
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Comment by FETC on April 19, 2010 at 8:47am
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Denise, your thoughts are decent on the fact that they list what they currently do at the FD. You need to have an impact and with that said, what are they going to lose with these cuts. How is the cuts going to affect the citizens? Impact needs statistics. Most fire department's can't come up with these statisitics though. If you lose an inspector or two, what impact is it going to have on loss of life and property.
You lose two career firefighters what is the impact on response times? How will they increase before the citizen sees a fire truck arrive with trained firefighters in it.
You ask a police chief to cut a patrol officer or school resource officer, they will always have statistics to defend the positions. Well they made (x) number of investigations, issued (x) # tickets, allocated (x) # fines and $$$$, and responsed on (x) number of calls, they also had an impact to reduce a potential minor situation escalate into a major crime or death...etc.
You should be asking, who is going to do the life safety 101 inspections for pre-plan design, approval, and field assurance through the design and building phases. Who is going to do the fire alarm, boiler or burner inspections and smoke detector inspections on behalf of the town's liability?
If they privatize this, who is going to make sure the town is covered? The low bidder????
I would suggest the Fire Chief, seek to purpose, permit fee's for these inspections that will offset the cost of having one or two fire inspectors on duty, who understand the fire service codes and standards, who will assure the fire suppression and operations division is educated with what is being built, what systems are in place and where, and thus maintain consistancy that will expedite response and mitigation.
Bottom line is privatizing this is a lose - lose for the municipality. Liability goes up. FD is further disconnected and the citizens will pay the private company to do the inspections - AND STILL PAY TAXES.
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Comment by Brian Mackie on April 19, 2010 at 8:35am
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Hey Denise
Just one concern I would have, is the fact that you never mentioned you are a member of the fire dept. If you wrote this as a "concerned citizen" and not as a member of the fire department, will the public believe that? It MIGHT, although maybe not likely, have a negative impact on people, when they find out you are in fact a member, and not just a concerned citizen. Also, what about the chief? Does he approve of the letter? Would the powers that be in your area come down on the Chief for setting this up? Even though he didn't, they might feel he was behind it.
I ask these questions just so everything is on the up and up, and not giving the impresssion there is some sort of hidden agenda.
I hope you don't think I am being negative. Any effort to save anything in any fire service is, as far as I am concerned, a great and noble thing. There should be more of it.
That's just my two cents worth Denise. And, looking at the markets, our Canadian money is almost at par with yours. lol Please keep us updated k? Good luck!
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If any of you have had a similar thing happen can you please tell me how it went? Thanks everyone.
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Comment by Chris Snow on April 18, 2010 at 1:30pm
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Very well put. Not to technical for the average citizen, but shows they should probably care about this because someone else does too. Keep up the pressure rookie!
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