Photo Credit Millburn FMBA Local 32

 I went to Newark to say farewell to Augie and Bear yesterday and today. Saw many familiar faces, but even more new ones. For many of the new faces, this is their first experience with a L.O.D. death. 

Unfortunately, for the older guys, seeing the fire department traditions playing out was too familiar. What I heard about present day conditions on the department made me worry that those traditions observed will become too familiar to this next generation.

 When I was appointed, there were over 700 firefighters employed by the City of Newark. At retirement, that number had dropped to 500. Yesterday, I was told Newark’s firefighters number 400. There were 18 companies riding with one officer and two men. With the two in two out rule, that means two companies have to arrive on the scene before a line can be stretched into a building. Does the public know this? Are there no political leaders who will advocate for the NFD?

 All of this makes no sense. The population of the city is growing. There are so many more buildings that areas of the city are unrecognizable. How can the fire department be shrinking? 

Politicians are elected to manage our cities. The quiet guardians who man the firehouses ask only that they be given the manpower and equipment to do their job. That job is to save lives and protect property. When they fall short because of a lack of personnel or equipment, people die. Those who die are usually ordinary folks, but the odds are that sooner or later it will be one of our own. It is so unnecessary.