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STAMFORD, Conn. Despite recent claims by Stamfords fire union, volunteer firefighters say Mayor Michael Pavias plan to reorganize fire services is best for the city, both in cost and safety.
We have a vested interest that this plan works, and it will work, said Matthew Maounis, assistant chief of the Turn of River Fire Department. He said that nearly every volunteer lives in Stamford, a much higher percentage than the career firefighters.
The fire union has said the mayors plan would not be as safe as having professional firefighters cover the whole city. Stamford Fire & Rescue sends 22 firefighters to a fire, while each volunteer house will have two career firefighters and the rest of a crew made up of volunteers.
Maounis disagreed, saying that only three-tenths of a percent of calls Turn of River has received in recent years are full structural fires. Most calls require only several people to respond. He said Turn of River has responded to about 85 percent of its calls, and Belltown has responded to 100 percent. He couldnt speak for the other volunteer houses.
Im not saying we dont miss calls, but at times we are stronger than they can ever be, Seth Berger, president of Turn of Rivers department, said of volunteer support.
Union head Brendan Keatley said the cost of the volunteer department would be about $13 million a year about $4 million more than called for in the mayors plan. Ray Whitbread, past chief at Turn of River, denied this, saying that the $8.65 million would cover all costs, including salaries, benefits, capital projects and training.
In June, Turn of River, Long Ridge and Belltown fire departments announced a merger of the three to start the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department. The volunteer department will be mostly responsible for covering the northern part of Stamford, while Stamford Fire & Rescue is primarily responsible for covering downtown.
The Springdale Fire Department will vote on whether to join the volunteer department at a September meeting, Whitbread said. The volunteers at New Hope (Glenbrook) Fire Department have decided to keep their current status splitting their house with Stamford Fire & Rescue, though they can join if they wish, he said.
The letter Pavia submitted to the Board of Representatives is here.
What do you think of the job the volunteer firefighters do? Can they handle their districts? Share your thoughts and ideas below or send them to reporter Anthony Buzzeo, tbuzzeo@TheDailyStamford.com.
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