SCRANTON FIREFIGHTERS TELL PEOPLE TO BE WARY
THE TIMES-TRIBUNE.COM - April 16, 2011 - Scranton firefighters have distributed a flier in the city's Hill Section encouraging people to call 911 to report emergencies, but not to go to their local fire station "because there may not be anyone there."
Distributed as the city continues to permanently and temporarily put vehicles out of service while restricting the use of overtime by firefighters, the handout tells people to contact Mayor Chris Doherty to "keep your firehouse open."
Citing budget constraints and a desire to eliminate firefighter overtime that reached $964,830 in 2010, the administration this year began to put vehicles out of service. Engine 9 on North Main Avenue is permanently out of service. Engine 4 has been put out of service seven times; Truck 2, six times; and Engine 15, 21 times.
Engine 15 is the only vehicle at the Ash Street firehouse. Apart from Engine 4 and Truck 2, a car is housed at Mulberry Street. The North Main Avenue firehouse, meanwhile, houses Engine 9 and Truck 4.
"I can't stop the union from doing anything on off-duty time, and that is exactly what they are doing," Fire Chief Tom Davis said. "I think it is a scare tactic."
While Chief Davis said people sometimes go to firehouses to seek assistance, he also said the best means of contacting emergency officials is to call 911. He added technology has reduced the need for people to go to firehouses.
Dave Gervasi, fire union president, said the flier is not a scare tactic. "We're just making people aware," he said. He noted that firefighters are distributing the flier on their own time and in civilian clothes. Those efforts are citywide, and not just in the Hill Section, he said.
While Mr. Gervasi said most people call 911, he also said "a lot of times" people also go to firehouses.
He said putting vehicles out of service delays the response of firefighters and sometimes leaves only one engine available if multiple emergencies happen.
The administration says it will first put Engine 15 out of service if there is not enough personnel to staff vehicles. The next vehicle to be put out of service is Truck 2.
Mr. Doherty said overtime will be used only to cover emergencies, not to replace firefighters who call out sick. Responding to the flier, he said the Fire Department has used similar methods in the past.
The administration has spent $47,488 on overtime this year.
The city is operating under a council-adopted ordinance that requires the minimum staffing level for the Fire Department to be at 137 and the Police Department at 150 in 2011. There are now 137 firefighters and 148 police officers.
Mr. Doherty said he will not fill vacancies in either department, adding they are staffed to provide protection. Previously, Mr. Doherty vetoed the ordinances, citing a violation of the Home Rule Charter. Council overrode his veto.
Efforts to reach council President Janet Evans were unsuccessful Friday.
Mr. Gervasi said his union would challenge vacancies that go unfilled in court.
