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Philly commish: 'Deactivations' won't affect service
The Philadelphia Inquirer (November 18, 2008)Nov. 18--Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers defended the proposed "deactivation" of seven fire companies yesterday, saying that overall staffing in the 2,400-member department would be maintained, and that firefighters would respond to "any and every emergency in an urgent and timely manner."
The data presented -- a compendium of color-coded maps, tables of total runs of individual fire companies, and charts and graphs showing response times to fires and medical emergencies -- reviewed the comparative performance of the city's 61 engine and 29 ladder companies.
It provided the first detailed look at the internal study used to justify the closings of two companies in Center City, two in North Philadelphia, and one each in South Philadelphia, Kensington/Port Richmond, and Roxborough/Manayunk.
Accompanied by Everett Gillison, the deputy mayor for public safety, Ayers briefed City Council on the administration's proposal to help address the projected $1 billion hole in the five-year plan by eliminating five engine companies and two ladder companies. Engine companies pour water on fires. Ladder companies set up equipment to effect rescues.
Gillison said that among the factors considered in deciding which companies to close were: location; size of area served; total workload; and proximity of other companies.
The realignment will allow the department to reassign up to 148 firefighters and avoid layoffs or the need to close any fire houses, Ayers said, adding that it could be done while maintaining national standards for safety.
Gillison called the changes a restructuring that would save the city $10.5 million a year because firefighters from the targeted companies would be reassigned to fill jobs now filled through overtime.
Charlie McPherson, Council's chief financial officer, pointedly reminded Ayers and Gillison that Council put money into the fiscal 2009 Fire Department budget so staffing could be accomplished with full-time hires at straight pay instead of overtime. There was no need for a response and none was given.
Councilman Curtis Jones, whose district is slated to lose one engine company, acknowledged that the overall population of the city has declined but noted that residential population had surged in certain areas. He asked whether that had been taken into account.
Ayers said it had been, adding that Engine 39, the company targeted in Jones' district, routinely had among the fewest emergency calls of any company in the city.
With the session nearing its end, Councilman Frank DiCicco, whose district includes South Philadelphia and parts of Center City, struck a balancing note: "No matter what we say or do, our constituents will feel they are being exposed to certain dangers. But at least we aren't closing the stations."
Contact staff writer Michael Matza at 215-854-2541 or mmatza@phillynews.com.
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