2/10/2010 - In a dangerous and unnecessary action, Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray has reduced the staffing of the Bureau of Fire by 9 firefighters.

Many communities have fallen on uniquely difficult economic times and have had to consider budget cuts.  However public safety is not an effective area to trim costs.  If Rick Gray is successful in his quest to continue Fire Bureau reductions, Lancaster will lose at least 13 more firefighters, amounting to at least a 25% reduction in our ability to respond to emergencies. 

This places everyone in Lancaster at risk.

Is the life of a firefighter, family or child worth taking chances?

In the wake of these dangerous staffing cuts, the Lancaster Professional Fire Fighter's Association would like to present the citizens of Lancaster with factual, independent data compiled by fire service experts from across the country. 

NFPA 1710 is the Standard for Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments- it details staffing of career fire departments. In this code, the NFPA has used scientific evidence, past history and first hand experience to establish the minimum number of personnel required to safely and effectively operate on a fire scene.

NFPA 1710 guidelines say that a first arriving company must consist of 4 fire fighters and arrive within 4 minutes of the initial 911 call. For an initial full alarm assignment (any structure fire) minimum personnel on scene should consist of 15-17 fire fighters arriving on scene within 8 minutes of the initial 911 call.

Rick Gray's staffing cuts have resulted in Lancaster adopting a minimum staffing of 12 on duty firefighters.  Because of this unacceptably low number, 4 out of Lancaster's 5 fire apparatus respond to emergencies with only 2 firefighters on board. 

Amazingly enough the International City Managers Association (ICMA) conducted a study showing that understaffing of fire departments is a nationwide problem. The ICMA conducted studies to determine the effectiveness of fire companies based on staffing. This information was then published under the title Managing Fire Services, 2nd edition. This international organization of city leaders recognizes the importance of a properly staffed fire department.

The Publication from the International City Managers Association included this information:

• If about SIXTEEN trained firefighters are not operating at the scene of a working fire within the critical time period, then DOLLAR LOSS and INJURIES are significantly INCREASED as is fire spread.

            As firefighting tactics were studied and judged for effectiveness the ICMA detemined that:

• 5 person companies were 100% effective
• 4 person companies were 65% effective
• 3 person companies were 38% effective

There have also been many additional references supporting the 4 person company standard that NFPA 1710 recommends.

• The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) stated that in order to permit the effective operation of fire companies at the scene of a structure fire, the minimum number of personnel on both engine and ladder companies should be five members per unit.  The IAFC recognized that current economic difficulties are affecting public safety organizations nationwide but these factors do not alter the tasks that must be accomplished at the fire scene.

• The NFPA Fire Protection Handbook stated that UNDERSTAFFED fire companies generally are limited to the use of small hose streams until additional help arrives. Often this action may be totally ineffective in containing even a small fire and in conducting effective RESCUE operations.

• NFPA 1410 – Standard on Initial Fire Attack stated that it is STRONGLY recommended that interior fire fighting operations NOT be conducted without an adequate number of qualified fire fighters and furthermore it is recommended that a MINIMUM acceptable fire company staffing level consist of FOUR members responding or arriving with each engine or aerial ladder company responding to ANY type of fire.

• NFPA 1500 – Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program stated that it is recommended that a MINIMUM acceptable fire company staffing level should be FOUR members responding on or arriving with EACH engine and each ladder company responding to ANY type of fire furthermore during actual emergencies, the effectiveness of companies can become CRITICAL to the safety and health of fire fighters. Potentially FATAL work environments can be created very rapidly in many fire situations.