By Jennifer González
Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Copyright 2006 Plain Dealer Publishing Co.
 
The hook-and-ladder truck at Fire Station 42 in Old Brooklyn is back in business.

The closing of the Fulton Road Bridge forced Cleveland officials to staff the firetruck again, said Ward 16 Councilman Kevin Kelley.

Pearl Road is expected to become increasingly congested with the bridge's closing.

And the nearest hook-and-ladder, which allows firefighters to reach building roofs, would be at Station 20 - which would take too long to respond to the southern part of Old Brooklyn, Kelley said.

In April, the city cut staffing for the truck and reassigned about 18 firefighters to different stations. The decision left Station 42 on Pearl Road with one engine truck. The move angered residents, especially senior citizens, who worried about the reduction in service.

On Friday, about 30 supporters welcomed the firetruck back with a celebration complete with food and drinks.

"I'm hopeful we can get to a point where hook-and-ladder 42 will be staffed permanently," said Kelley, who represents part of Old Brooklyn.

The decision to eliminate the hook-and-ladder company came after the city laid off 70 firefighters in January 2004 to cope with a $61 million deficit.

A report in March concluded that the hook-and-ladder firetruck responded to fewer alarms in 2005 than the city's 40 other firetrucks. On average, the other trucks responded to twice as many alarms.

The Fulton Road Bridge is being rebuilt and is expected to be closed until 2009. It is unclear whether the hook-and-ladder truck will continue to serve the 34,000 residents of Old Brooklyn after the bridge reopens.

Brian Cummins, the Ward 15 councilman who represents part of Old Brooklyn, said the firetruck's return to the neighborhood is a half-victory.

"We will still have to worry about the situation," he said. "We have a lot of work to do."