Firefighter Layoffs

Glad to hear it. We don't need to waste resources as the MFD does -- sending unneeded personnel and equipment to 80 year old's house because of heart palpitations. Less fire, more medics is fine. And more police, less fire would be nice too.

Fire fighters don't need to be at the sight of a medical emergency.

Stanky wrote: Glad to hear it. We don't need to waste resources as the MFD does -- sending unneeded personnel and equipment to 80 year old's house because of heart palpitations. Less fire, more medics is fine. And more police, less fire would be nice too.

Vet, we're talking two different things. I'm not saying we don't need ambulance response. I'm saying why do we need fire personnel, fire engines, and the cost associated with those runs for those situations? Why can't we have more EMS staff responding rather than sending fire engines and MFD? Since when did medical runs need to become fire runs? Seems to me it's like at tax time requiring every simple 1040 tax return to be performed by a CPA. Too much waste.

This topic should be looked at. Know one is discounting or wanting to Bad mouth the MFD.  Is Botts the guy in charge?  We all know who Reps. the city.  Could the fire dept.  and OUR city come together and talk like adults?  Maybe we need another E-Mail from Becker asking the ?. 

The fire truck is sent on a set protocol that the dispatchers have. They go on ALS (advanced life support) runs. Such as dispatched chest pain, short of breath, seizures, shooting, stroke, ect. There are many times that these runs require additional personnel then just the 2 that come on the squad. As well due to staffing cuts and only 3 squads in the entire city, many times the squads are out coming back from the hospital or another run and the fire truck will get there before the squad. As stated earlier these people are paramedics as well and carry the equipment to begin treatment.

Sending a fire engine to a call has no change on EMS billing. If a squad only responds but it turns out that ALS procedures are needed for that person and are performed then the billing company will bill for such.

As far as the fire truck going to the store for food. Again due to budget cuts MFD staffs fire engines with 3 persons. It is dept. policy that a total of 4 personnel must be onscene before entering a structure that is on fire. So if a person were to take their own vehicle to the store look at this possible scenario. Person goes to store, thus fire engine has 2 personnel. Fire comes in with people trapped. Fire truck arrives with 2 people, deputy chief/shirt commander arrives 1 more person = 3 people on scene. Those 3 must now wait for the next engine, possibly quite a ways out or for the person in their own vehicle to drive with the flow of traffic to get there.
Another possibility that person goes to store. Medical call comes in for a person not breathing. Fire engine and squad arrive, 2 people on each = 4 total. You need at least 3 people min. in back of the squad to provide treatment and 1 to drive the squad. You now must leave that fire engine unattended where it sits. As it is now 1 person drives to hospital to pick up crew that rode in with squad to hospital as serious runs such as a person not breathing can keep a squad crew at the hospital for some time with paperwork and resupplying. This allows that fire truck to get back in service quite sometime quicker and available to respond to further details.

Thank you for the response. We could have speculated forever here. Hearing what the situation is from a person involved in day to day operations kind of stops the debate for me. A perfect example of the general public seeing things like a fire truck parked on standby at Krogers or Marsh and wondering why and seeing a fire truck accompany an ambulance (as has been the case at our house) and wondering why the extra manpower, especially seeing the fire truck in a non-participant role in the run........and not really understanding the true situation. Perceptions albeit false.

Stanky, the medics are the fire personnel. Not sure if that was stated clearly above but all the medics are also firefighters, and nearly every firefighter in MFD is also a trained medic. In most cases you don't get one or the other, these guys are both.

Bottom line, we have to stay within the budget.  Don't ask me how we come up with money to buy buildings or SUPPORT the art theme.  I'm guessing the MFD will do all they can to help the city with some tough decisions!  Union leadership is required.

Stanky wrote: middie83, still not sure why we need fire personnel to respond to medical emergencies. why not just hire a few more medics and have 3 to a medic van? Skip the fireman and the engine. No more trumped up numbers claiming thousands of fire runs. 10,000 doesn't tell me much because I know we don't have a fraction of that number in actual fires and inspections. I'm not sure that a "department policy" means it makes sense to   continue a way of doing things. After all, isn't it in the department's interest to write policies that require more firefighters to engage a fire? More "need" means more staffing! The odds of someone in this town dying at the hands of criminals is far greater than dying in a house fire. I'm not saying deaths by fire never happen but they are incredibly rare. Most fires are property damage issues. More cops, less fire.

Is the City doing all they can to cut cost? Is the Union listening to it's members?  Something has to give, can't do much about a federal shut down but Everyone has to get on board with OUR local issues. M83 don't like to call anyone out but I like to hear your thoughts.  Do we have the right leadership handling this issue?

M83 thanks for answering I didn't mean to ask and then not return. This Cincy state deal has taken up a little of my time.  I've got to head out but have a few more questions, Thanks again I know how important this issue is.