The Firefighters’ Association is raising the alarm after learning that minimum daily staffing levels are dropping to address city budget shortfalls.
President of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1075, Craig Smith says that means that one ladder truck will need to be removed from service as of January 1, leaving just one ladder truck to serve most of the northeast Avalon region.
Smith got the news this week that their daily minimum staffing levels are dropping from 39 to 37.
🔥1) Local 1075 has some disappointing news to share. Yesterday the City of St. John’s and the SJRFD have decided because of budget shortfalls for 2021 they will reduce minimum daily staffing from 39 firefighters on shift to 37. What does this mean ? LADDER 3 will be removed
— IAFF Local 1075 St. John's Firefighters. (@IAFFLocal1075) November 25, 2020
Ladder trucks require two personnel—a lieutenant and a firefighter—to operate. Because minimum staffing is being reduced by two, that means two firefighters won’t be available to operate the ladder and as a result, one of those trucks will have to come out of service.
It’s referred in the industry as “browning out,” says Smith.
The St. John’s Regional Fire Department has two ladder trucks, one at the Central Fire Station and one in the West End, that serve an area that includes St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Goulds, Paradise, Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, and Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove.
6) Federal funding for municipality's
St. John's — population 108,860 — $6,397,074.66
Mount Pearl — population 22,957 — $1,349,050.55
Paradise — population 21,389 — $1,256,908.23
— IAFF Local 1075 St. John's Firefighters. (@IAFFLocal1075) November 25, 2020
