City fire department shutdowns begin

Seven city fire companies ceased operations yesterday as part of Mayor Nutter's budget-cutting plan, but not without rancor, as the head of the firefighters' union claimed that "people will die" because of the closures.

Nutter said yesterday that his fiscal-austerity plan will not endanger public safety and will keep response times within national standards, then proceeded with the closings as the union's efforts to stop them faltered.

Workers at the Fire Department's equipment shop at Hunting Park Avenue and Front Street yesterday sorted ventilators, axes, nozzles and ladders that had been stripped from firetrucks, and 130 firefighters reported to new assignments.

The city expects to save $10.5 million a year by eliminating 148 unfilled positions without layoffs.

Citing a decline in structure fires and a shrinking population, Nutter announced in November that he hoped to realize savings by decommissioning the five engine companies and two ladder companies. Nutter has forecast a $108 million budget shortfall this year, and more than $1 billion over five years.

Factoring in location, size of area served, total workload, and proximity of other companies, Nutter noted that no firehouses would be closed, no firefighters would be laid off, and response times would meet national standards.

In Nutter's plan, each fire house will retain at least one engine company or one fire company.

Local 22 of the International Association of Fire Fighters claims that the Fire Department's internal study leading to the closings was flawed and that the mayor is being given bad information by his own people.

"He's getting sold a bad bill of goods from the fire commissioner, that this plan is safe," union president Brian McBride said, predicting that response times will increase to dangerous levels, particularly in bad weather. "What Mayor Nutter doesn't realize is that he put the lives of firefighters and the citizens they serve in jeopardy. And there will be blood on his hands when people die from this, and people will die from this."

In an interview, Nutter said he has "tremendous respect" for McBride and city firefighters, and reiterated his position that safety will not be compromised.

"The plan that the fire commissioner and his command staff put together ensures that the citizens of Philadelphia will continue to receive the same level of performance that they deserve, and our firefighters need," he said.

The union tried to block the closures with a lawsuit in December. Both Common Pleas and Commonwealth Courts ruled against the union last week, and its appeal is before the state Supreme Court.

"Now, five different stations are without the ability to put out a fire, because there are no engines, no water," McBride said. "They might as well be libraries without books."

Engine companies put out fires with water. Ladder companies access the burning building, rescuing occupants and ventilating structures.

Engine companies eliminated were Engine 1, 711 S. Broad St.; Engine 6, 2601 Belgrade St.; Engine 8, Fourth and Arch Streets; Engine 14, Foulkrod and Darrah Streets; and Engine 39, Ridge Avenue and Cinnaminson Street.

Ladder companies were Ladder 1 at 1541 Parrish St. and Ladder 11 at 12th and Reed Streets.

Those companies responded to a total of 5,761 fires, 6,016 "shoe runs," and 16 false alarms last year. "Shoe runs" are emergency nonfire calls in which firefighters are often the first to arrive. The city has said the addition of five ambulances and crews should take some of that burden off the firefighters.

The department now has 56 engines and 27 ladders.

In the area around Ladder Company 11, residents were not happy.

"It's an extra chance with everyone's life that you're taking," Sam Jefferson, 78, said while walking his dog. "They should look and see if there aren't other avenues."

Christopher Schmanek, 21, holding his 7-month-old daughter at a nearby park, said, "It's always been a part of this community. It shouldn't be closed."