In a city that prides itself in growth and development, the lack of attention given to the firefighters should be seen as an embarrassment. The question is, are the people responsible embarrassed? Call me ignorant, but I always assumed safety was one of the foundations of any city.

The loss of 9 firefighters in Charlotte, South Carolina, dramatically brings into focus the risk firefighters take each day. Today, many of our leaders struggle with simple issues of character or can’t remember conversations and decisions and don’t hesitate to say “I don’t remember” with a straight face. Character can be readily observed in the dedication our fire and police officers demonstrate. Further, I believe some of our community’s best role models for our children are firefighters and police officers. Congratulations on a great website and Godspeed in your careers. Fire and police services are critical to the well-being of any community.

As a Local union president that just had 5 fire fighters laid off in one of the most prosperous cities in the country in one of the most prosperous regions of the country (Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut), I would like to thank the members of the Wichita local for taking the time to put the site up, the fact is that most taxpayers don not think about the fire department at all, the fire departments are the places that the “bean counters” traditionally come to for the cuts.

Keep up the fight, the site and the message are great.

Fraternally,

Brendan Keatley
Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 786

There is an interesting article on Firehouse.com (08.17.07) entitled Charleston listens to prelimary panel recommendations. One recommendation falls in line with Wichita, they recommend 3 firefighters at all times on ALL engine and ladder companies and in two years up the manpower to 4. This is food for thought for the administration, hopefully the new chief will institute these staffing recommendations.

It ashame that city government doesn’t take pride of it’s firefighters and police officers. They spend thousands of dollars on studies on how to put a theatre in Old Cow Town, but they can’t spend that same money on suppling the proper man power for the fire department or police department. I used to run for a small fire company in Pennsylvania, and we would be called to help the City of Chester (L-1400) which has had the same problem for years. They used to have 5 volunteer companys. Then they became a unionized and was redused to 3 companys. Now due to not enough man power they used the third company as a reserve unit. The newest piece of equipmnet is a 85 foot arieal platform, the rest of the equipment are from the early to mid 80’s and one 1991 squirt.