By Natasha Lee
Staff Writer
April 23, 2007
STAMFORD - Springdale residents lack adequate fire protection because the Stamford Fire & Rescue chief pulled an automatic response engine from the Springdale volunteer department, the firefighters' union said.
The Stamford Professional Firefighters Association Local 786 filed a grievance last week with Stamford Chief Robert McGrath against the move but it was denied, union President Brendan Keatley said.
Springdale Fire Co. is the only volunteer department staffed with 16 paid firefighters from Stamford Fire & Rescue in addition to its 30 volunteers.
The order took effect April 15.
The automatic response engine provided four firefighters to respond to each call in Springdale, along with volunteers and Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters stationed at the Springdale firehouse. Under McGrath's order, the automatic response will be used only on reports of fires or if Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters request additional manpower.
Keatley said the move jeopardizes the safety of the paid firefighters and of Springdale residents because the volunteer firefighters aren't reliable or as trained as career firefighters.
"We've lessened the level of fire service to a district which we should be increasing," he said. "You're putting not just my guys in danger, but you're putting the citizens in the district in danger."
The union plans to file a complaint with the state Board of Labor Relations, he said.
McGrath said he initiated the automatic response engine eight years ago to provide additional support to the department, which was struggling with a shortage of volunteers.
"It was necessary power," he said.
The two fire departments operate under a 1997 agreement that calls for paid firefighters to help staff the Springdale firehouse. It created a long-standing rift between the two departments about who has authority over the volunteers. The paid and volunteer firefighters report to their respective chiefs.
McGrath would not say whether a shortage of volunteers or response times from volunteer firefighters were factors in his decision to pull the engine. But he said the move is not a safety risk. He withdrew the automatic response because Springdale residents were getting a free service, McGrath said.
"The people in Springdale are not paying for that additional fire protection we were providing," he said.
Springdale Chief Shawn Fahan said he did not know about McGrath's directive until told by a reporter, but he said he agreed with it.
Fahan said he considers it a compliment that volunteers are showing up to calls and assisting Stamford Fire & Rescue firefighters. Last year, the Springdale department averaged about five volunteer firefighters for its 682 calls, Fahan said.
"He must feel trustworthy that our volunteers are doing our job," Fahan said of McGrath's decision.
Fahan said he asked the city about removing the engine but nothing was done. The automatic response was "overkill" for the number of firefighters who showed up for calls that were not life-threatening, such as activated home alarms, he said. The department also relies on help from neighboring volunteer companies such as Belltown Fire Department, so safety is not an issue, he said.
"I don't think there's any concern," Fahan said.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.