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City Adds One Firefighter But Department Will still remain Below National Standards... Once again it appears that for that the City is Refusing to hire 6 Firefighters to the Ranks of the Franklin Fire Department Despite the Request of Fire Chief James Martins and Assistant Chief Lloyd Bertram. Even after the overwhelming evidence that the City of Franklin Fire Department Fails to Meet National Staffing Recommendations. A city wide survey was sent out in 2002. The survey indicated that 77% of the respondents were in favor of hiring 6 new firefighters. Since that survey the fire department has only hired one replacement firefighter and one additional firefighter. The additional firefighter is to decrease the overtime that is being generated, but still does not help meet the standards set forth by NFPA 1710. It is also important to know that the City turned down the SAFER Grant in 2005 which would allow the city to hire 6 additional firefighters and the federal government would help subsidize the salary and benefits for 6 years. After the 6th year the city would pay the full benefit and salary. Since then they have already hired 2 firefighters with no help from the government and are paying their full salaries of the 2 new hires. The six fire fighters are needed to meet the Chief's plans to bring the daily minimum staffing to 12 persons still 2 below the National Minimum Staffing Recommendations of the National Fire Protection Agency, The U.S. Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Defense. Currently the Franklin Fire Department has two Stations which are responsibly for over half of the city, which are not adequately Staffed; Station two, located at 9911 South 60th in the Franklin Industrial Park, and Station three located in the 4700 block of Drexel Avenue. Both of these stations are staffed with only two firefighter/EMTs, only half of the recommend 4 needed to properly and safely respond to fire incidents. It is important to remember that the Franklin Firefighters are Dual Role employees acting both as Firefighters and as EMT's or Paramedics depending upon their Training Level. This makes the need for additional Personnel even more critical because the current staffing provides for little, some say no backup, in these areas when currently firefighters are on other call, mostly Medical Calls. With the need for Quick Responses when citizens call for emergency medical problems or fire related calls Local 2760 and it's members vow to keep fighting for the much needed help. We do not want you to have to wait for help to come from the other side of the City or even a different City when you need us there fast. If you have an opinion on this please Contact your Alderman or the Mayor today and let him/her know what you think! More Information to Follow... More additional information regarding the Departments Needs and the National Standard See the Links at the Left... |
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