WILKES-BARRE - City firefighters on Wednesday took their protest to the people, canvassing neighborhoods to tell residents their safety is at stake over recent staffing reductions.
After days of informational picketing, city firefighters delivered up to 3,000 fliers to residents to notify them that only two fire engines will now be in service on most days.
The engine in the South Station on High Street - the first due at two high rises, two city schools and a hospital - will sit idle on days like Wednesday when the staffing level per shift is at 12, firefighters say. On Friday, the city announced the minimum on-duty staffing level would shrink from 14 to 12 firefighters because the fire department was on pace to exhaust its 2010 overtime budget by May.
"I'm not happy about it," said Peggy Benkoski, 49, a resident of the Valley View Terrace high rise on High Street, two blocks from the South Street Station, where a fire engine was out of service.
Benkoski called The Citizens' Voice after a city firefighter passing out fliers at her complex handed her one of the documents.
"Your neighborhood fire engine is out of service today," the flier reads. "There are only two fire engines protecting the city and they are not near you. Hopefully, they are available when you need them."
The flier asks residents to call Mayor Tom Leighton's office and local media outlets.
"As soon as he gave me this, I got right on the phone. It's ridiculous," Benkoski said.
Firefighters have been battling Leighton for years over staffing concerns. They said the drop from a previous minimum staffing level of 17 to 14 was unsafe and the latest cut is simply dangerous.
"Not only is it unsafe for residents, it's unsafe for us," said firefighter Damian Lendacky while passing out fliers. "We want the public to be informed. As taxpayers, they have a voice."
Leighton ran into two people who asked about the fliers on Wednesday, and he said he told them the city has paid out $100,000 in overtime costs in two months. The two people agreed with Leighton that was too much, he said.
"It's costs," Leighton said, "but I also have confidence that they can do the jobs."
Since 2002, the ranks of the fire department dropped from 88 to 69 members. Firefighters say the overtime budget also was significantly slashed during that time.
Besides the staffing changes, city officials said no additional overtime funds will be doled out this year.
On days when the staffing level is 12, the two engines in operation will be at Fire Headquarters on Ross Street and the Hollenback Station, 1020 N. Washington St., in Parsons.
bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055
http://citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-firefighters-take-staffing-issues-to-residents-1.670542
