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Reduction plan poses serious safety issue, fire official tells Youngstown mayor
YOUNGSTOWN
City firefighters expressed concern to Mayor John A. McNally about his plan to take a fire engine off the road saying it’s a serious safety issue.
With the truck gone, it would eliminate eight fire- department jobs — expected to be through the retirement of eight firefighters — and play a major role in saving about $1 million annually, McNally said.
Of the 138 city firefighters, 36 went to city hall Tuesday as a sign of unity against the mayor’s plan. Of the 36, six met with McNally during his monthly “Five Minutes with the Mayor.”
John Casey, vice president of the Youngstown Professional Firefighters Local 312, said he told McNally that the proposal is dangerous as it reduces the number of firefighters, putting more stress on those remaining. About 33 percent of all firefighter fatalities are caused by overexertion and stress, he said.
Also, having firefighters in that condition puts residents in danger, Casey said.
McNally’s plan would be to eliminate a truck on a North Side station along with three captains, three lieutenants and two firefighters through attrition by the end of the year. That would save $781,000 annually.
Also, using new firefighters instead of lieutenants in the department’s inspection unit would save $231,000 a year, he said.
“That station covers all the major hospitals, [Youngstown State University], and parts of downtown,” Casey said.
McNally has said there are no plans to close any of the city’s eight fire stations.
But Casey said city officials are looking at closing the North Side and downtown stations, and opening a new one to cover both areas.
Before meeting with the firefighters, McNally said, “I talked to the bargaining team about closing a truck and the union doesn’t support it. I appreciate their point, but my position hasn’t changed.”
When asked, Casey said the contract proposal the firefighters union soundly rejected last month has nothing to do with the truck issue.
Casey said the bargaining unit and McNally will meet again to discuss the truck reduction.
“The impact it will have on the safety of residents” is significant, Casey said.