Minimum Staffing Must Be Maintained

One of the worst kept secrets in the fire service and in municipal government is the reduction of staffing on engines, ladders and rescues. The reduction of firefighters to less than four per rig is responsible for killing firefighters and civilians because there are too many tasks to accomplish with too few people.

2009 saw cities and counties cutting the number of firefighters for fiscal reasons. What politicians were saying, and companies that recommend the practice, is the lives of citizens and firefighters don't matter. "We will gamble" seems to be tone. Well, the gamble brings tragic results.

This year firefighters must work hand in hand with the insurance industry to punish those who operate below NFPA 1710 staffing levels. Imaging the public having to hear no one will go inside because too few people are on scene. Insurance companies will act accordingly and residents will remove those who are responsible.

Comments

[jason wise]

Firefighters now more than ever need to come together and fight for whats right. Traditional union and filing grievances are not what they used to be in this day in age. We need to start thinking outside the box to get things done. Not only for our safety but the safety of the people we serve.

Jason Wise

FF DOD

[Yank My Doodle]

Four to a rig. I wish. We have only, in the last year and a half, gone to two on a rig. Some still run only one. Even if we had 4 in our station, we have trucks that can only have two ride on it. Some of our front run trucks, 23+ yrs. old, have an open cab design and our dept. policy is that no-one is to ride in the open part of the cab. Where would we fit the other 2? Safety is being thrown out the window in exchange for personnal agendas.