Yes, due to budgetary constraints and a directive from the Mayor's Office, Truck Company 1 was closed on September 6th reducing the manpower by 4 men per shift. At the same time, Rescue Company 1 was reduced from 7 men to 6, for an additional reduction of 1 per shift. This resulted in elimination of their light rescue unit, which had been designated Rescue 2. We took the Rescue 2 vehicle and assigned 3 personnel to it, designating it as Squad 1. Their primary duty will be vertical vent, responding in place of the 2nd due truck on residential structure fire assignments. While the Mayor's Office had been seeking a manpower reduction of 4 personnel per shift, this plan reduces the on-duty strength by only 2. Chief McLees was able to get the politicians to see the value of the proposal, and they accepted it.
Obviously this is not a development we are big fans of, but reality has a way of focusing your attention wonderfully. The economic path the city was on was unsustainable, and reductions had to be made - not just in the fire department, but more importantly to us, not excepting the fire department. It's always better for your department leadership to have a plan (or two, or three...) rather than let the politicians do it - which they will, with you or without you.
After a few weeks of operation, this system is working well. Squad 1 was predominantly staffed with Truck 1's former personnel, and they have plenty of expertise cutting roofs. Truck 1 was chosen for closing due to their being the most centrally-located of our six truck companies - the remaining 5 each picked up about 8 or 9 blocks into the center city. The Squad, of course, has additional duties as well and it's all still a "work in progress" . . . but Syracuse has had a Squad Company before, and we know how to do this.
So we now operate:
10 2-piece engine companies (2000 gpm engine and EMS response vehicle)
5 95' tower ladders
1 Rescue Company (Heavy rescue /135' aerial & Special Ops unit also available to respond)
1 Squad Company
4 ARFF Units at Hancock Int'l Airport
1 HazMat Co. (HazMat Command Unit and three support units, operated by Engine Co. 5 & Truck 3)
While no one knows what the future may hold in store, it was imperative that at this point in time we position ourselves to allow some flexibility. We have done that, always bearing in mind that the one thing we must always conserve the most of is our most valuable resource.
Our firefighters.
Obviously this is not a development we are big fans of, but reality has a way of focusing your attention wonderfully. The economic path the city was on was unsustainable, and reductions had to be made - not just in the fire department, but more importantly to us, not excepting the fire department. It's always better for your department leadership to have a plan (or two, or three...) rather than let the politicians do it - which they will, with you or without you.
After a few weeks of operation, this system is working well. Squad 1 was predominantly staffed with Truck 1's former personnel, and they have plenty of expertise cutting roofs. Truck 1 was chosen for closing due to their being the most centrally-located of our six truck companies - the remaining 5 each picked up about 8 or 9 blocks into the center city. The Squad, of course, has additional duties as well and it's all still a "work in progress" . . . but Syracuse has had a Squad Company before, and we know how to do this.
So we now operate:
10 2-piece engine companies (2000 gpm engine and EMS response vehicle)
5 95' tower ladders
1 Rescue Company (Heavy rescue /135' aerial & Special Ops unit also available to respond)
1 Squad Company
4 ARFF Units at Hancock Int'l Airport
1 HazMat Co. (HazMat Command Unit and three support units, operated by Engine Co. 5 & Truck 3)
While no one knows what the future may hold in store, it was imperative that at this point in time we position ourselves to allow some flexibility. We have done that, always bearing in mind that the one thing we must always conserve the most of is our most valuable resource.
Our firefighters.
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