Engine staffing levels

[JimSpoor]

FDNY is looking at reducing staffing on their engines from a five man crew to a four man crew. While reducing manpower is never a good thing I know that most other areas can't staff their engines at this level. FDNY also has the luxury of putting 25-50 FFs on scene rapidly with their multi-level alarm system. Any comments or insight?

[ADY11]

I am not a firefighter, but I find this interesting as this same issue has been in the news lately here in Omaha, NE. There is a city ordinance that requires there be at least 4 men be on every engine. The city council wants to remove the ordinance. They say that 4 man crews can still be a department regulation but there is no need for an ordinance requiring it. Of course the department is fighting it as they would like it to remain an ordinance to ensure that the city cannot cut crews any smaller when times are tight.

[nyfo]

I'm pretty sure my town is putting 2-3 paid guys on a truck to get them out the door and use vollie FF's as supplimental man power.

[Sandles2Sidearm]

The only rigs with more than three firmen on them are ALS/Paramedic rigs, other wise it is 3 firemen. It is broken down quite differently here though, fires are not all that common and multi story fires are even less common. They supplement the coverage of many guys on one rig, by having more rigs with fewer people on board.

[JimSpoor]

The reduced staffing levels that were proposed for FDNY are suppposed to take effect today. However, emergency court action is expected from the unions. Stay tuned.

[JimSpoor]

The reduction in staffing levels went through.

The next prposal for reducing the budget is to take ALL 34 fire marshals (investigators) from the Bronx and reassign them to engine and truck companies. The theory is this increases the number of personnel available for staffing and reduces further the amount of OT the city has to pay. The city believes the duties of the Bronx fire marshals' office can be absorbed by the other boros.

Let's see: In times of economic hardship we are going to reduce the number of investigators specially trained to identify and prosecute arsons. Furthermore we are going to do this by completely eliminating the office in one municipality. Hhhhmmmmmm.