Struthers firefighters: Bigger force needed; only 3 on scene at times

STRUTHERS

City administrators are being asked to solve a manpower shortage in the fire department.

In a letter to Struthers Fire Chief Gary Mudryk, the Struthers Fireman’s Association said that trying to fight fires without enough manpower is “exhausting” and “dangerous.”

The letter was also sent to Mayor Terry Stocker, Safety-Service Director Ed Wildes and all city council members.

The letter points out that the department lost two veterans, Chief Harold Milligan and firefighter Dick Dale, over the last two years.

“They were replaced with equally as valuable members with you getting appointed to chief and one of our volunteers getting appointed to [firefighter],” the letter says.

“However, we have also seen much loss in manpower over the past couple of years,” it continues. “In addition to many of the veteran volunteers hanging up their helmets for good, several other volunteers have moved out of the area and are no longer able to assist our department.”

“Our numbers for active members are the lowest they have been in many years and, without the addition of new and younger members, our volunteer force is aging,” the association says. “Our last structure fire had eight people on scene, three of which were on duty and in recent fires we have had as little as three people on scene.”

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.