How to Destroy a Fire Department

By Jay Lowry

In the course of covering the fire service, one becomes familiar with the callous approach to budget cuts. Citing the economy has become the favorable way to describe cutting services even when it has no bearing on the budget.

In Columbia, South Carolina, where a department works professionally, utilizing superbly trained personnel to answer more than 30,000 alarms per year, the city council is hacking away at the fire department budget with all of the precision of a machete.

Two engines have been shut down, furlough days have been instituted and benefits to both active and retired firefighters have been changed. This is not unlike some other cities around the United States with two exceptions. The first is the fun the council seems to be having and the second is the money spent elsewhere for things such as beaver eradication.

During the course of a recent council meeting, a multi-millionaire councilor spoke to a room full of retirees and firefighters. After benefits were yanked from retirees, the councilor told the gathering, "We'll be back." Firefighters say they understand the apparent meaning behind this rather callous remark.

The money cut from public safety is substantial but more than $930,000 dollars was on the agenda for beaver eradication. That is right, beaver eradication. It seems when put in comparison, it is far safer to remove problem beavers than to provide fire protection.

Despite the attack on the fire department, the city has yet to disclose to the public the reasons why the city is in dire financial straights. Fiscal irresponsibility must go back to those who approve budgets. In this case, that would be current council members.

In cities and towns across the country, the frustration with elected officials is growing among public safety workers. Direct attacks on budget items compromising public safety are leading more firefighters to question whether leaders have the public's interest at heart.

Columbia firefighters continue to do their jobs just as firefighters do in other communities. Here’s hoping the council and bureaucrats can aspire to the same professionalism of the bravest.