New York City fire union officials charged yesterday that the Fire Department had failed to train and equip its ranks properly, and that the department was placing in peril firefighters who would be the first to respond to the next chemical, biological or radiological attack.þþIn a 119-page report, the union listed complaints ranging from lack of terrorism training, to improper decontamination of fire equipment, to what it called the department's general lack of responsiveness after months of complaints.þþThe city's fire commissioner, Nicholas Scoppetta, denied that the department had placed its members at risk or had been unresponsive. He said the union was trying to divert attention from the fact that it had failed to make necessary concessions to help close a citywide budget gap.þþThe union's charges come at a contentious time between the city and its unions, as they spar over proposed cuts in services, like the closing of firehouses.þþThe report by the union asked where the department, which faces a $45 million gap in next year's budget, would find the money to train firefighters to deal with hazardous materials.þIn addition, the union complained that the department had failed to test its plan to recall off-duty firefighters to work in the event of a major disaster. The department was criticized in a report by a private consultant hired by the city after Sept. 11, 2001, as not effectively managing the response of fire units to the World Trade Center.þþAlso, the union said, poor training in the use of respiratory devices at ground zero after Sept. 11, 2001, contributed to many health problems for firefighters. But the department has failed to document how many firefighters became ill after working at the site, the union said.þþThat concern comes just as the city is using what it contends is the department's high rate of sick leave to justify removing the fifth firefighter from 53 engine companies.þþÿWe've asked them for countless data,ÿ said the Uniformed Firefighters Association president, Stephen J. Cassidy. ÿThere's no response. So this is what we're up against.ÿþA state appellate court ruled on Friday that the city cannot remove the fifth firefighter until a lower court's decision upholding the removal can be reviewed.þþThe department must make its cuts by the fiscal year that begins July 1, if it is to help the city close its projected gap of $3.8 billion.þþ
Source: NY Times
