Fatal Fire after firehouse closes

[VistaFD126 0]

Unfortunatly due to budget cuts and a vote from the town, a citizen tradgecly gets killed when her house a mile from a staffed firehouse recenly got shot down story from firehouse.com news

http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/a...nId=12&id=51423

[JustSomeGuy 0]

Very important for every politician, city manager, civilians to read. Get the message out. Unfortunate but this is what happens when we close fire houses people. Its simiiar to playing Russian roulette.

[JM15 386]

The Department had an 11 minute response time which is ridiculas, and obviously they need to fix something there.

[RWC130 594]

City officials said yesterday that the victim, Bridget Clary, an aspiring screenwriter, might have been saved if the city had not been forced to close two full-time fire stations after residents voted against a proposed tax increase.

VERY SAD!!!!!

OK, Did I miss something?

"City Officials" said she might have been saved but they were forced to close

the Fire Station due to residents voting against a proposed tax increase.

Sounds like they are trying to rub this death in the faces of the tax payers no?

If you knew this would happen then why the #%&@ did you close the Firehouse?

PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD NEVER BE CUT EVER AND IF ACTIONS BY CITY GOVT

CAUSE SUCH A LOSS WELL THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!

Did I read into this too much or are they basically saying:

"We knew it would happen but you voted the tax increase down so oh well"

AMAZING!

[JBE 328]

Reminds me of when E-294 got shut down in the late 80's/early 90's. Within a few months they had a fatal fire and L-143 was waiting a while for water, while 285, 293, 270, and 305 were coming in. That's one of the platforms that got Giuliani elected. He gets sworn in, 294 is back in business the next day.

[ajsbear 11]

The Department had an 11 minute response time which is ridiculas, and obviously they need to fix something there.

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Yhink of the realistic response times in an all volunteer department here in Northern Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess. Call comes in, 1 or 2 minutes to check the CAD system and then dispatch. You get the call get dressed and go to the firehouse and wait to assemble a crew. Dress and Travel time another 3 or 4 minutes, a minute to put on gear, crew assemble in rig and get on the road another minute then drive time to the alarm. So it can be 8 or more minutes to get a rig out the door in some areas then maybe another 3 or 4 to the incident. The larger the fire district the longer the times. A 10 to 15 minute response can be realistic.

[exmrvfc 0]

Massachussetts has a different system for establishing property taxes. The State sets a basic amount that each municipality can raise taxes and if the town/city wants to raise taxes over that rate, it has to be approved by the voters. They call it an "override" vote. If you watch Firehouse.com, you see articles where emergency services will be cut if the residents don't approve the override tax increase. The politicians in this case are not necessarily to blame in these cases.

[FirNaTine 370]

Massachussetts has a different system for establishing property taxes.  The State sets a basic amount that each municipality can raise taxes and if the town/city wants to raise taxes over that rate, it has to be approved by the voters. They call it an "override" vote.  If you watch Firehouse.com, you see articles where emergency services will be cut if the residents don't approve the override tax increase. The politicians in this case are not necessarily to blame in these cases.

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No, the Politicians are not the ones to be blamed. Isn't it amazing though how these same Politicians, immediately find the finances to reopen these same companies and stations that were closed prior to a fatality within their 1st due territory?

[fjp326 42]

The Department had an 11 minute response time which is ridiculas, and obviously they need to fix something there.

←

You have to remember the first due company was originally third due in this part of the city. The article stated that they had do drive 5 miles through the city in slick conditions. Eleven minutes is a normal response for that distance. You are right about one thing though, something does need to be fixed and that is to reopen the houses that were closed in the first place.

[Guest]

It's really sad when public saftey is the first thing cut, and people accept it...

Just because nothing bad ever happened, doesn't mean it CAN'T happen.

Edited October 4, 2006 by KFD Kid26

[Guest]

thats what happens when a house closes.

[Scottyk107 9]

And the voters who shot down the tax increase are the first ones to cry law suit and say that the city was responisble for the death. The vote may have not been directed on the fire department but once more money is denied then all public agencies start to get buckled down and rung out for more funds. Its tragic that it takes a life for people to see this