Resident wants Mayor Wong to reconsider fire department cuts - ...

I grew up in a little town with an awesome fire department - all VOLUNTEER with no salary expense, so we could afford the trucks and equipment we needed as well three different fire stations. I read recently that 80% of all communities in the U.S. have at least some volunteer firefighters.

Couldn't we find enough able-bodied people who work locally, either self-employed or with flexible enough jobs they can leave to fight a fire, train them, and get the coverage we need at a price we can afford?

Let's think outside the union box.

J_in _Ward _1 wrote:

I grew up in a little town with an awesome fire department - all VOLUNTEER with no salary expense, so we could afford the trucks and equipment we needed as well three different fire stations. I read recently that 80% of all communities in the U.S. have at least some volunteer firefighters.
Couldn't we find enough able-bodied people who work locally, either self-employed or with flexible enough jobs they can leave to fight a fire, train them, and get the coverage we need at a price we can afford?
Let's think outside the union box.

Absolutely-I would bet that if they were to open up the training and ask for applicants for volunteer fire fighters, the line would be out the door.

My father was a volunteer fire fighter when I was growing up. He never made a dime doing it, but worked hard for every call they got and enjoyed it immensely.

cheryl wrote:

LOOKS LIKE WE BETTER CHANGE THE MAYORS NAME TO MYLOTT SHE IS DOING THE CITY WRONG ALREADY LIKE THE FORMER MAYOR SHE IS OUT FOR THE RICH BUT ITS OK. WAIT TILL THE FIRE DEPT CANT RESPOND TO HER OR HER FAMILY IN A TIMLEY MANNER THEN SHE WILL BE COMPLAINING THAT THEY ARENT DOING THEIR JOB LISA GET A LIFE OPEN THOSE CLOSED EYES TO YOUR CITY NOT OPEN YOUR POCKET BOOK...

I invite you, and other uninformed morons like yourself, to attend one of the council meetings and see the pain in the councilors and mayors faces when they discuss this budget. The tv doesn't do it any justice.

I also invite you to check out the budget. It will be made available at city hall and will be on the website. See if you can find any places to cut. If you do, call a councilor. They would love to see it!

Too bad there isn't a moron block on this blog!

Longer response times means that there will be a better chance that your 3 story shanties will burn to the ground which would be a great service to the city. The city council could then sell me the site of your rat infested pisshole and I could put some condo's in. Condo's would bring in more $$ for the city coffers.

I hear theres gonna be a sale on kerosene heaters, cheap chineese heating blankets, and candles at the big lots this fall - stock up!!!

The Fire Department is top heavy and needs to be reorganized just like the Police Department.
1 Chief
6 Deputy Chiefs
4 Captains
15 Lieutenants
49 firefighters
http://www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us/fire/roster.htm...

You can't get a fat contract and expect to avoid cuts. If the fire fighters are that concerned over their cuts, they could return their raises (too include their administration). But, they are not that concerned. Nice try!!!!

scott wrote:

The Fire Department is top heavy and needs to be reorganized just like the Police Department.
1 Chief
6 Deputy Chiefs
4 Captains
15 Lieutenants
49 firefighters
http://www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us/fire/roster.htm...

They only need 1 Deputy chief, 3 Captains and maybe 6 Lieutenants. Why so many high ranking personnel?

scott wrote:

The Fire Department is top heavy and needs to be reorganized just like the Police Department.
1 Chief
6 Deputy Chiefs
4 Captains
15 Lieutenants
49 firefighters
http://www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us/fire/roster.htm...

While I RARELY agree with Scott, this time he is right. Furthermore, if you look at the apparatus fleet of the department, there are SEVERAL Chief Vehicles, Pick Up Trucks to go unnoticed.

But this garbage about the fact the city is going to only have 2 engines and a ladder truck, is EXACTLY what the Department did during the recession of late 80's early 90's. When I moved to Fitchburg in 2000, I was told about the nights when there were multiple fires being set, and that the city didn't have a ladder truck.

Also what is MOST glaring is that in Mayor Mylotts last act as mayor (and was duly rebuffed by Editor McMenemy of the S&E), gave the veteran Fire Fighters (with most seniority, not just rank), and gave them a new contract, and a bonus that included over 10 paid vacation days (on top of what they get normally...)

If Chief Roy cannot see the hypocracy here, then I don't feel sorry for the FFD and their plight. The respect one has for Firemen, goes out the window, when it is all about how you get paid, then doing it for the service.

In our small town in Maine, we had a very dedicated Fire Chief, who was literally fighting fires from the age of 13 (yes...that is correct...as I knew the man), the addage was that "He was born a firefighter, Raised a Firefighter, Lived as a Firefighter, and died as a Firefighter." He often stressed the public service angle. The man didn't get paid for his work over career that was close to 40 years. In fact, flanked by fellow firefighters, in his final days in the hospital, was looking for his boots as the other Firefighters scanners went off. All that with no pay!

Maybe Chief Roy needs to wake up and smell the coffee, and understand what the job is supposed to be about.. Protect and serve is what it is all about. Apparently it is "Pay us first, and we'll put out your fire," in the FFD.

I agree, too many chiefs and not enough Indians. I bet you that when the cuts do happen, it will be your regular firefighters that will take the heat (no pun intended).

Yet another scare tactic letter. I love how the writer includes the fact that our homeowners insurance will rise. "This rating has a direct effect on the amount we property owners must pay for our fire insurance. If they determine that Fitchburg does not have adequate fire-suppression resources available to properly protect their
interests, then our insurance rates will go up."

Then why has my homeowners insurance gone down for the past two years?

I also grew up in a small town with an all volunteer fire department. Even had to use them once, they were there in time to save our house from any major damage.

If you ask me, all the departments in the city are top heavy. Most of the dept heads make more than the mayor.

The effects of this top heavy organization will go well into the future. The costs for retirement benifits and health insurance beneifits from all these top ranking positions will only continue to climb. Attrition for these positions is long overdue!

I disagree, Boulder. Chief Roy is more concerned about sending his men into burning buildings without adequate backup.

A volunteer fire department.

That’s your solution.

Are you kidding me? Honestly, do any of you know what year this is? Because you’re all obviously stuck in a serious 1950’s mindset.

Stop living in the past. This isn’t Mayberry folks. We don’t have the barber and the butcher and the baker right down the street from the fire station who can close their little shops to go jump on a truck when the alarm sounds. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is?

The vast majority of people who live here commute to work, most quite a distance and even if they all did work here there are very few jobs that you can just leave to go fight a fire.

And furthermore, for those of you who have come up with this brilliant idea, I suggest that YOU sign up to volunteer first.

Go ahead! Put your money where your mouth is.

J_in _Ward _1 wrote:

I grew up in a little town with an awesome fire department - all VOLUNTEER with no salary expense, so we could afford the trucks and equipment we needed as well three different fire stations. I read recently that 80% of all communities in the U.S. have at least some volunteer firefighters.
Couldn't we find enough able-bodied people who work locally, either self-employed or with flexible enough jobs they can leave to fight a fire, train them, and get the coverage we need at a price we can afford?
Let's think outside the union box.

Ok Opie! Maybe we could get Home Depot to donate all the buckets for the bucket brigade. Tell aunt B to cut back on all that sugar she's been throwing in your apple sauce.

Annon wrote:

<quoted text>They only need 1 Deputy chief, 3 Captains and maybe 6 Lieutenants. Why so many high ranking personnel?

Are you a firefighter somewhere? Do you or many of the other people here actually understand even the basic workings of a fire department??
Firefighting is a manpower intensive job. There is no way around that. Comparing Public Safety work to the private sector is like comparing apples to oranges. A better analogy is an Army Unit. Captains and Lieutenants are similar to Sargents or junior officers. They supervise their crew while they work alongside them. They do the same job and take the same risks as their crews. A Deputy Chief is like a Colonel or General. They direct the operation of the various units so they are all working toward the same goal. Each Engine or Ladder has a Captain or a Lieutenant. Each Shift has a Deputy Chief. now multiply that by 4 shifts. Fitchburg's officer corps number are not out of line with a City Fire Department.
Also, in response to the "volunteer Fire Department" comments. Call & Volunteer Fire Departments can work very well in smaller communities. There are several in the area. However, none of them are handling nearly 8000 calls per year like Fitchburg (Check the stats, they are on their web site, too.) Even if you could find willing volunteers in a city like Fitchburg (which you won't), how many employers would let employees go over 20 times per DAY.(Do the math)
A wise man once said, "better to be thought a fool than open one's mouth and remove all doubt" Perhaps more people out there should take that advice. The FFD is already way understaffed. It is ony a matter of time before something tragic happens and then everyone will be saying "how did this happen?
Note- I am not a Fitchburg Firefighter, but I do have over 24 years experience as a firefighter and fire officer in both career and volunteer fire departments. I DO know what I'm speaking about..

Marie in the Burg wrote:

I disagree, Boulder. Chief Roy is more concerned about sending his men into burning buildings without adequate backup.

Marie: If you are the Marie I am thinking of, you were a backer of Mayor Wong. While I am a backer of Mayor Wong, one reminds me of the last act of Mayor Mylott and the bonuses given to the seniority of the Fire Department (which was close to 10 days paid leave, ON TOP of what they got in their new contract.)

This done at a time when the State DOR made it clear that such moves with the amount of free cash on hand, and the lack of tax revenue, was something that you shouldn't be doing. Especially when the City of Fitchburg's Bond Rating was one step higher than Junk Bond status.

If the Chief couldn't see this as being a problem for the operation of the department, then what kind of administrator are you. After all, being a Fire Chief does include in the job description of handling a departmental budget for the whole department!

Marie, I don't agree with your statement. If running into a burning building was the only reason for doing his job. If it was, he would have been looking out for the city as a whole, when Mylott gave out the lavish bonus/contract, and rejecting it (or voicing some concern) before it happened.

Joan at Home wrote:

A volunteer fire department.
That’s your solution.
Are you kidding me? Honestly, do any of you know what year this is? Because you’re all obviously stuck in a serious 1950’s mindset.
Stop living in the past. This isn’t Mayberry folks. We don’t have the barber and the butcher and the baker right down the street from the fire station who can close their little shops to go jump on a truck when the alarm sounds. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is?
The vast majority of people who live here commute to work, most quite a distance and even if they all did work here there are very few jobs that you can just leave to go fight a fire.
And furthermore, for those of you who have come up with this brilliant idea, I suggest that YOU sign up to volunteer first.
Go ahead! Put your money where your mouth is.

JOAN: Let's put YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS...

The way you talk, you remind me of a homeowner who lived out on the back road on the hill heading to Westminster, who I once talked to. His attitude is that paying more taxes for city services was something he wouldn't do (nor much of the homeowners in Fitchburg.)

Secondly, if you read the article regarding the Mayor's budget and her cuts, Fitchburg is in the lowest 5% of ALL MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPALITIES in median income. Basically said, that Fitchburg has very little people owning homes. That means that folks like you Joan and the many who live on the outskirts are basically keeping the city afloat.

This is what happens when you have a Mayor whose only experience is some City Council terms, and the rest selling pants on Main Street.

Also, Towns like Ashby, Townsend and even Pepperell (Pepperell with a population close to 10,000) have a departments with maybe 1 to as many as 3 full-time firefighters (and a SMALL number of officers).

While I don't mean to demean the duty (and I have had 2 firefighters in my family, and my late Uncle who was a Townsend FF for 10 years, and known many others in two states. While it would be wonderful to give them the pay they should get, the first and most important is...the service to others.

However for the reasons I gave above about the sad state of affairs in Fitchburg, the Fire Department cannot do it's job like it used to. If you want it so much.........THEN BACK A PROP 2 1/2 OVERRIDE, AND PAY THE TAXES.

However yet again...folks like you are COMPLETELY against such a deal. So you are left to cut, or run.

Thus ends the sad saga of the City on the River.

Amazed wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you a firefighter somewhere? Do you or many of the other people here actually understand even the basic workings of a fire department??
Firefighting is a manpower intensive job. There is no way around that. Comparing Public Safety work to the private sector is like comparing apples to oranges. A better analogy is an Army Unit. Captains and Lieutenants are similar to Sargents or junior officers. They supervise their crew while they work alongside them. They do the same job and take the same risks as their crews. A Deputy Chief is like a Colonel or General. They direct the operation of the various units so they are all working toward the same goal. Each Engine or Ladder has a Captain or a Lieutenant. Each Shift has a Deputy Chief. now multiply that by 4 shifts. Fitchburg's officer corps number are not out of line with a City Fire Department.
Also, in response to the "volunteer Fire Department" comments. Call & Volunteer Fire Departments can work very well in smaller communities. There are several in the area. However, none of them are handling nearly 8000 calls per year like Fitchburg (Check the stats, they are on their web site, too.) Even if you could find willing volunteers in a city like Fitchburg (which you won't), how many employers would let employees go over 20 times per DAY.(Do the math)
A wise man once said, "better to be thought a fool than open one's mouth and remove all doubt" Perhaps more people out there should take that advice. The FFD is already way understaffed. It is ony a matter of time before something tragic happens and then everyone will be saying "how did this happen?
Note- I am not a Fitchburg Firefighter, but I do have over 24 years experience as a firefighter and fire officer in both career and volunteer fire departments. I DO know what I'm speaking about..

While as a firefighter, I would agree with your point, however since the city has been run into the ground, it becomes certain that having that many chiefs, and other officers is something that is a joke.

If that was the case,(and it isn't), then most of the Towns surrounding Fitchburg, would have as many officers on their roster. Yet they don't, and they had to make cuts. Fitchburg either has to push a Prop. 2 1/2 override, or make cuts. That simple.

Memory serves me right, that back in the early 90's, when Fitchburg was in a recession, the FFD didn't do anything with the command structure. They just mothballed the ladder truck, and yet there was multiple fires in Fitchburg, and no ladder truck.

Well without the incidents, yet the FFD decides to shut down the Oak Hill station. When that part of the city needs assistance, it will have to wait 10-20 minutes as the department has to go through the Main Street Traffic (Monday-Saturday...a real obstacle course..) With all the tennaments, and old factory buildings...and large rail line cutting through the area...an accident waiting to happen.

Yet Chief Roy wasn't concerned. He didn't make a fuss about Mylott giving them a really great contract with tons of bonuses (especially when the city is close to bankruptcy!)

The Chief's judgement (and apparently his officers..) wasn't in the best interest of the people they serve. If that isn't the case, then why the layoffs, and the trucks being mothballed????

Amazed wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you a firefighter somewhere? Do you or many of the other people here actually understand even the basic workings of a fire department??
Firefighting is a manpower intensive job. There is no way around that. Comparing Public Safety work to the private sector is like comparing apples to oranges. A better analogy is an Army Unit. Captains and Lieutenants are similar to Sargents or junior officers. They supervise their crew while they work alongside them. They do the same job and take the same risks as their crews. A Deputy Chief is like a Colonel or General. They direct the operation of the various units so they are all working toward the same goal. Each Engine or Ladder has a Captain or a Lieutenant. Each Shift has a Deputy Chief. now multiply that by 4 shifts. Fitchburg's officer corps number are not out of line with a City Fire Department.
Also, in response to the "volunteer Fire Department" comments. Call & Volunteer Fire Departments can work very well in smaller communities. There are several in the area. However, none of them are handling nearly 8000 calls per year like Fitchburg (Check the stats, they are on their web site, too.) Even if you could find willing volunteers in a city like Fitchburg (which you won't), how many employers would let employees go over 20 times per DAY.(Do the math)
A wise man once said, "better to be thought a fool than open one's mouth and remove all doubt" Perhaps more people out there should take that advice. The FFD is already way understaffed. It is ony a matter of time before something tragic happens and then everyone will be saying "how did this happen?
Note- I am not a Fitchburg Firefighter, but I do have over 24 years experience as a firefighter and fire officer in both career and volunteer fire departments. I DO know what I'm speaking about..

CORRECTION: The opening should have read...

Yourself as a fire fighter...

Sorry!