Fewer firefighters a mistake
To the editor:
I am not in favor of the city manager’s proposal to reduce the full-time firefighter positions by one per shift from four to three. In fact, I believe the current number of four is not enough.
The Maine Bureau of Labor standard is for a minimum of two firefighters to team up to enter a building and at all times remain together with two more fully geared up, standing at the entry point and ready to rescue them or other victims. Each team is to have a charged hose line from separate water supplies (two different trucks) in case one should fail. There are your four full-time firefighters not even considering the fact you have one of them out of position several times a day to cover the airport. That leaves no one to operate the pumps or to command and coordinate the search, attack and ventilation operations.
I do not believe the taxpayers want to pay the Bureau of Labor fines and the increased insurance premiums to save a percentage of a tax mil.
Kirk A. Ward
Presque Isle
