May 12, 2009 7:55 pm US/Eastern
FDNY Closings Get New Yorkers Hot All Over City
CBS 2 HD Speaks To Concerned Residents Who All Share The Same Fear That Their Lives Will Be In Danger
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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On July 1, seeing FDNY trucks in certain parts of the city may not happen as often as it used to.
CBS
There was outrage Tuesday night after the FDNY announced four fire companies in New York City will close by July 1.
But as CBS 2 HD found out, residents said the cuts will put their lives at risk.
They become part of the neighborhood, these engine and ladder companies. As much a part of the fabric as even the little things that make every corner of New York, like, say, City Island, a real neighborhood. So when folks in a place like Bushwick hear an engine company is closing, well, someone like Mike Scarpitta tells a tale of heroism … like the time one of the firefighters pulled a man out of a burning building.
"He hurt himself while he was saving someone. Now, if they weren't here that person might've been toast," Scarpitta said.
And that's why people gathered outside City Hall on Tuesday morning. Inside, the fire commissioner was trying to explain why companies were going to close.
When asked directly if lives will be put in danger by the closings, FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said, "Oh listen: we have carefully picked the companies with an effort to reduce any impact on operations."
On July 1 the city will close four fire companies, spanning four boroughs, including Engine Co. 4, on South Street in lower Manhattan and Engine Co. 161 on Staten Island.
Also closing will be Engine Co. 271 in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, where people had a lot to say.
"There's always fires around here, we need that to be open 24/7," resident Ronnie Santos said.
And they spoke out on City Island in the Bronx, where they are upset the city will close Ladder 53.
"Everyone is absolutely disgusted," said resident Desiree Cordaro.
It's possible 12 more companies will be closed by the end of this year.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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