Cuts To Fire Personnel Would Leave City Unsafe

TheDay Published on 3/25/2008

I am writing in response to the letter titled “New London should trim the fire companies,” published March 22. I totally disagree with the letter writer and believe his claims are totally insane.

He states that “The firefighter's main duties are eating doughnuts, playing Parcheesi and watching television.” I believe that was an unnecessary statement. He is not from New London, and he is from an area with a volunteer fire company. So, maybe he just does not understand what our firefighters do every day.

He also states that we should cut the department to 17 personnel. First and foremost that is incredibly unsafe not only to the firefighters, but the residents of New London. To safely put out a fire you need 24 personnel to arrive on the first alarm. That is well above what the letter writer says we should have.

Also, the New London Fire Department responded to 1,387 runs from Jan. 1 to March 21. If the city were to close two of the three firehouses, we would be calling for assistance from Waterford and Groton hourly. In my view it seems that it's not just doughnuts and games.

I am very proud of my fire department, and every day they risk their lives to protect me, my friends and my family. The letter writer's statements were incredibly rude and hurtful toward the men and women who risk their lives every day.

Andrew West
New London