The City of New Rochelle’s proposal to further slash emergency 1st responder protections for all of its citizens is penny wise and pound foolish. The proposed cut back of $770,000 to the fire department will save New Rochelle taxpayers less than .03 cents (2.7 cents per citizen) per day.
While it is clear that the economy is taking its toll on cities, this plan would cause a further increase in fire and emergency response times. Because of these proposed cuts, citizens will need to ask, can my loved ones survive the extra minutes it will now likely take when they are having a heart attack, stroke or are unconscious and trapped in a fire with a heavy, toxic smoke condition.
Over the past three years the city has cut deep into the bone, diminishing its own emergency response capability, as it has made several layers of cuts into the structure of the New Rochelle Fire Department (NRFD) since 2008. In 2008 the NRFD had 168 firefighters. Under this plan, that would be cut to just 143 (15% cut since 2008), before taking into account that 10 members of that remaining fire force are currently unable to fight fires due to on the job injuries, including burns.
In 2008 the minimum on-duty staffing level was 29 firefighters per shift to protect the entire city. The proposal announced today would lower that to just 24 firefighters effective January 1 (equaling a 17% reduction).
Significantly closing one fire company, Ladder 12 (located at Webster Avenue Fire House) will diminish by 1/3 the number of ladder companies able to respond to emergencies. While the job of Engine Companies is to extinguish fires and respond to medical emergencies, Ladder Companies conduct search, rescue and recovery of trapped civilians, in addition to the vital job of venting heavy heat from the floors above the fire.
The manpower cuts experienced by the New Rochelle Fire Department has also led to the idling of its life saving, 1 million dollar plus specialized fire-rescue vehicle, because the city does not have enough firefighters to staff it. All of these cuts have already pushed the NRFD to the breaking point and endanger public and firefighter safety.
This has led to the department regularly using only 3 firefighter engines, which is already 40 percent below the minimum standard set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) of 4 firefighters and an officer per truck.
A landmark study by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) concluded that 4 firefighter crews can perform basic firefighting functions, including search and rescue significantly faster than 3 and 2 person crews.
The primary purpose of government is to provide for the health and well being of its citizens. This cut will put New Rochelle residents and its fire fighters lives at risk, all to save the grand sum of less than .03 cents per day. I believe our citizens lives and the safety of New Rochelle is worth it.
The author is a 26 year veteran New Rochelle Fire Fighter, president of NRFD Local 273 and 50 year resident of the City of New Rochelle.
