Super Bowl Sunday isn’t so super in Atlanta. Look at how many fire companies are closed today. Chief says it is an “extremely vulnerable situation”.
Updated at 7:15 PM
Since last weekend STATter911.com has been telling you about the problems of the 911 center in Atlanta following a 22-minute delay in getting firefighters to a house fire. There is a reminder today that it isn’t just 911 in Atlanta that is feeling the strain.
Here are excepts from an article this afternoon by Bill Torpy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Declaring the Atlanta Fire Department in “an extremely vulnerable situation,” the chief on Sunday temporarily closed five stations because of a wave of firefighter absenteeism.
Chief Kelvin J. Cochran said 27 firefighters called in sick Sunday, more than double that of a usual day. He said he did not know if the increase was sort of a “blue flu” or “political statement” but added that firefighters often call in sick more often on a payday weekend with a holiday or a big event like the Super Bowl.
Lt. Jim Daws, head of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 134, which represents the department, said there is no blue flu or Super Bowl-related goofing off.
“This is just a normal consequence of the budget cuts.” said Daws. “The conditions the city is asking firefighters to work under plus an 18 percent pay cut is adding to absenteeism. I’m not surprised absenteeism is up.”
He said the 18 percent is a combination of furlough and overtime being cut.
Sunday’s absenteeism caused the department to shut down seven pieces of equipment and close five stations Sunday as the department rearranged staffing to high-call and high-risk areas, Cochran said.
“We are on the edge of our seats hoping nothing bad will happen in the areas where we have station closings,” Cochran said. “Today is one of those uncomfortable days.”
Earlier in the day we reported that Jim Daws was continuing to sound the alarm about the effects of budget cuts on the Atlanta Fire Department. In a mass email/press release and phone conversation, Daws confirms the following list of companies that are closed today due to lack of staffing:
1. Ladder Truck 25
2. Ladder Truck 26
3. Engine 12
4. Engine 22
5. Engine 26
6. Engine 30
7. Engine 36
Daws reports this is in addition to the closing of these companies:
1. Squad 4 (HazMat and Heavy Rescue)
2. Ladder Truck 12
3. Engine 7
4. Engine 23
Atlanta Fire Department PIO Capt. Bill May confirmed the closings for STATter911.com
Here is what Jim Daws said in this morning’s press release:
“What you’re seeing today is a total unraveling of the fire protection and disaster response scheme in the City of Atlanta. Fires and other emergencies are no respecters of budget shortfalls. They will come when they will, and if Fire Rescue is unprepared to respond, lives and property will be lost. These cuts to Fire Rescue are nothing less than governmental malpractice on the part of Atlanta’s elected officials, and the citizens should not stand for it.”
In addition IAFF Local 134 is asking the public to be “especially careful and vigilant against fires today”.
On the department’s website the following points are made about the cutbacks:
Reduced staffing
Increased response times – takes longer for firefighters to arrive on scene
Increase in number of brown outs –
Same number of fire trucks will respond – 3 engines, 3 ladder trucks, 2 battalion chiefs.
