Rolling Closures a Possibility for Fire Department

[The Northerner]

New cuts may be coming to the Philadelphia Fire Department and they could include rolling closures of firehouses.

What if you stopped by your local firehouse and found the firefighters who would normally be first to answer your call weren't there at all that day?

It could happen.

The city announced as many as four units each day may be taken out of service in neighborhoods city wide in hopes of saving more than $3.5 million in overtime to ease the city's budget crunch.

"He's (Mayor Michael Nutter) rolling the dice and he's playing Russian roulette with people's lives," said Bill Gault, President of Local 22, the firefighters' union.

Unlike past permanent shutdowns of five engine and two ladder companies, which prompted large neighborhood protests, neighbors apparently won't be told in advance or perhaps at all if their local engine or ladder company is being put out of service.

"It's smoke and mirrors. The citizens don't have any idea there's nobody in there," Gault said.

Read more: http://cbs3.com/local/Philadelphia.Fire.Department.2.1807094.html

[hedgehog]

1. For all the money being saved by cutting back on the stimulus,

I wonder how much is going to the insurance companies in increased premiums? Republicans just don't understand the concept of pay me now or pay me later, do they?

Even better - by laying off or cutting the pay of government employees, the economy takes another kick to the stomach.

[Arctic Dave]

2. This has already happened in my town.

Thanks to our douchenozzle republican mayor.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Same here, we have had this going on

for oh over a year now. At least an engine company per department in the county.