Like most of you, we are angry about the proposed cuts to so many FDs. It’s like some DON’T get it ... or don’t WANT to get it. There are even communities with Volunteer FDs that are making cuts! WTF?!
Too many folks measure the wrong things about their FDs. FD officials are great at talking about their FD in operational terms but not as good at describing the economic impacts of their FD on the city in “bean counter” language.
For that matter, how many cities establish performance objectives for their FDs as part of their municipal goals? Maybe if we speak “bean counter” language, they might get it. Maybe.
Several months ago FireFighterCloseCalls.com asked for FDs to send in any and all info, media clips, etc. related to FD budget cuts.
They have compiled many of them now on a new page. As a part of FireFighterCloseCalls.com, they have one of the best FD statisticians in North America, and he has been working hard in putting together some comparative information — information you can use.
As you will see on the , these cuts differ from place to place (staffing, brownouts, stations, etc.) without any kind of objective analysis.
Their goal right now is to initially just get the info out there for you in an organized manner. You check it out and if you see issues that resemble your FD, you can contact them direct and compare notes, ideas, solutions, etc.
They also want you to send in articles and examples where good funding and adequate staffing mattered — such as when FFs made a rescue where it may not have happened if the staffing or funding was cut.
What happens to one fire department can happen to other departments, sooner or later. By submitting your department’s cut articles and info, we can all watch, record and learn, so that we can educate the budgetary people sooner, with documented facts.
Tell them what is happening in your area by submitting info to us and if your FD is listed, please send updated changes to Staffing@firefighterclosecalls.com.
