DETROIT — For the second time in less than two years, Detroit firefighters had thousands of dollars worth of equipment stolen from their truck.
USA Today reported that the saws, which belong to Ladder Company 22, were stolen while crews were out battling a blaze Sunday.
“We parked the rig and fought the fire,” firefighter Jeremy Mullins said. “When we came back and opened the compartment, they were gone ... It was easy pickings. It’s very frustrating. I’ve put in a lot of effort to get things like that for my firehouse and other firehouses to make sure they have what they need. To have them stolen, it’s a slap in the face.”
The saws are vital to fighting fires and saving lives, Mullins said. The saws cost about $2,000 a piece.
Firefighter Mullins said the first theft happened about two years ago. He said the firefighters on duty that night had gone down the street to grab something to eat from a restaurant. When they went back to the firehouse, they noticed the saws were gone, according to the report.
Mullins got the word out that they were looking for used saws to replace the old ones. The National Firefighters Endowment offered to buy the firehouse two new saws, according to the report.
Mullins said after the first theft, the firefighters installed a bracket and a chain in Ladder 22 and locked both saws up.
“We learned our lesson and would lock them up religiously in the compartment,” he said.
But Ladder 22’s rig is in the repair shop, so the firefighters are using a temporary pickup truck with a pump on the back. Mullins said firefighters were unable to secure the saws, leaving the equipment vulnerable, according to the report.
Mullins was able to replace the chainsaw by using money the firefighters had saved up to repair the firehouse’s kitchen, which is in disrepair. Mullins, who has been a firefighter for nearly 14 years, said the city is unable to cover the cost.
“We do more with less,” he said. “It’s gotten worse and it’s getting progressively worse.”