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The response to a Christmas Day fire in Stamford proves the inadequacy of the mayors fire protection plan, according to the head of Stamfords firefighters union.
This fire really shows the flaws in the mayors proposal, said Brendan Keatley, president of Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 786, in a release. North Stamford will end up in the same boat as it is now, with an undermanned initial emergency response and SFRD [Stamford Fire & Rescue] being called in anyway to attack the fire with sufficient manpower and resources.
Firefighters were alerted at 7:45 p.m. to a fire at 32 Wallenberg Drive in North Stamford. The blaze caused major structural damage. Some 60 firefighters from professional and volunteer units throughout Stamford, as well as surrounding towns, rushed to the location. Firefighters were on the scene overnight and well into the following morning.
The fire occurred within the Long Ridge Volunteer Fire Co.s jurisdiction. Additional units, including Stamford Fire & Rescue personnel, were called in after the initial response because of the fires severity.
Mayor Michael Pavia has proposed merging the citys volunteer fire departments and creating a special taxing district that would fund operation. The city then would have two fire departments -- the merged department and Stamford Fire & Rescue -- instead of the six separate departments it has now.
Keatly insists details of Pavias plan would leave the city understaffed in a major fire emergency.
Pavia was not available for comment.
What do you think of the proposed fire plan? Do you think residents will be fully protected against a fire emergency?
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