Groton City Needs Four Firemen A Shift

To The Editor Of The Day:

Published on 1/20/2007 in TheDay.com

I must speak out in support of the effort by the Groton City Fire Department's union to increase the minimum on-duty staffing from three per shift to four per shift.

Providing adequate staffing at a fire is of paramount importance for the safety of residents and emergency responders.

In addition, four firefighters on the initial attack are able to enter the structure to effect immediate fire-suppression activities, thus reducing property damage.

This would also provide the minimal necessary coverage at all times, including major holidays when many volunteer personnel are unavailable.

While I also support a volunteer firefighting force, the Groton City Fire Department has been unable to recruit and retain enough volunteer firefighters to provide adequate staffing at the start of a fire.

The cost of increasing the minimum staffing from three on-duty to four is about $50,000 a year. This would rate a small price to pay for this service. I consider this cheap insurance that could easily minimize damage to my property in the event of a fire. Without adequate staffing, the $50,000 would easily be exceeded by the property loss.

The potential exists that a small residential fire not aggressively attacked due to inadequate staffing may easily result in a total loss for the property owner.

Increasing the minimum staffing is a win-win situation for the community, the fire department, and most of all, the citizens of the city. I urge fellow taxpayers in the city to support this initiative as well.




David Silvia
Groton