Dec 4, 2008 8:00 pm US/Eastern
Budget Burning: FDNY To Shut Down 4 Companies
Department Hopes To Save $9 Million; Some Politicians And City Residents Angered Over Decision
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
With a tanking economy and calls for all city agencies to make budget cuts, the FDNY is no exception. On Thursday, New York City's fire commissioner announced which firehouses are slated for staff reductions.
Engine 271 in Bushwick is one of those on the hit list. The overnight shift would be eliminated.
"Let me emphasize … no firehouse will be closed," FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said. "And firehouses will be fully staffed during the day tour."
Scoppetta announced the Department will cease operating a fire unit on Governor's Island, which has no permanent residents. The apparatus, however, will stay. In addition, one night tour at four other houses would be cut.
For example, Ladder 124 in Bushwick would continue to be staffed around the clock, but the engine company would not be staffed from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.
The nighttime closure will be at Engine 4 in lower Manhattan, Engine 161 on Staten Island, Engine 271 in Brooklyn and Ladder 53 on City Island in the Bronx.
Officials said they are the least busy houses in the city, and nearby companies could cover more easily at night when there is less traffic.
"These changes amount to reduced staffing, less than 1 percent," Scoppetta said.
Steve Cassidy, head of the Uniformed Firefighters' Association, clearly was not thrilled with the idea.
"More fatalities happen at night than any other time of day," Cassidy said. "Closing companies compromises public safety and threatens civilian and firefighter lives."
Near the Bushwick house, many residents were not happy.
"I don't think it's a good idea. No, it's not," resident Ramon Rivera said.
Officials said City Island's ladder company may be the least active in the city. However, reducing its staffing does not sit well with the Bronx borough president.
"If you remove the ladder company and you have the engine company remain there, and they get called to multi-alarm fires somewhere else in the Bronx, we have not a single firefighter on City Island," Adolfo Carrion said.
The fire commissioner said these changes would result in an annual savings of $8.9 million.
The firehouse staffing changes are scheduled to take effect Jan. 17. A 45-day notice is required to community boards and council members.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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