The fire union is objecting to a new emergency plan by the city that includes replacing a fire vehicle with a paramedic unit at one of the city’s 10 fire houses.
Union President Frank Ricci said the department’s current deployment plan is working well and he believes changing it could affect response times to fires and emergency and other medical calls.
“We provide the best service to our residents,” Ricci said. “This will have an impact on resident safety across the board when you remove the entire balance.”
The fire union, International Association of Firefighters, Local 825, launched the “Save Your Neighborhood Fire Engine” initiative on its website Thursday and some firefighters have gone door-to-door to with petitions informing residents of their concerns.
The Fire Union’s website urges residents in large, bold letters to “Save your neighborhood fire engine.” The city’s plan could cause delays in obtaining service and decrease “your chance of survival,” the website says.
The site also urges resident to call or email Mayor Toni Harp to urge her to reject “Fontana’s plan.”
“Your neighborhood fire engine will be there in 4 minutes or less!,” the website claims, “but not for long if Deputy Emergency Manager Rick Fontana has his way!”