Buffalo,NY Becoming Unsafe to Live In

[Rangerjim]

Thanks to Buffalo Mayor Anthony Massiello's closing of Buffalo Fire Department's Engine 18 and who knows what other fire companies, Buffalo,NY the Queen City of the Great Lakes has taken one step closer to becoming a city unsafe to live in. By dimininishing the fire protection, Masseiello and the stooges who make up Buffalo's Common Council are playing Russian Roulette with people's lives by cutting back on the fire protection. It also endangers the remaining fire fighters in the BFD whose job is plenty dangerous as it is. Given that Engine 18 is located on Fillmore Avenue, it seems to me that Mayor Massiello is sending the message to people living in that area that they are expendible.What is Mad Anthony trying to do, shut down the Buffalo Fire Department entirely and go to an all volunteer force? Given the number of high rise structures in downtown Buffalo, that would never work. Perhaps Mad Anthony will not be satisfied until the BFD is down to the depleted level of the Rochester Fire Department 75 miles to the east. Rochester's man power was so tied up on a warehouse fire a few years ago that they had to call in suburban fire companies to assist them on other fires. Does that fate await the city of Buffalo? It is all the more reason to remove these politicians from office at the earliest possible date before they get any more people killed as a result of their dangerous and irresponsible actions. The men and women of the BFD owe it to themselves and the people they serve to campaign to remove these money grubbing morons from office and the sooner the better. The lives they save may be their own and their loved ones. I am in no way connected with the Buffalo Fire Department, but want the people in it to know that someone cares about them.

[NJFFSA16]

Thanks for the informative post Jim. I guess we add the politicians of Buffalo to the growing list of budget cutters, who would rather plant flowers in the parks, instead of providing quality emergency services. The people in the affected area should voice their concerns loud and clear...in the form of letters and e-mails to the administration.

It's amazing that politicians find that properties and people...are somehow expendable. If the result is but ONE loss of life..they should be held accountable.

We live in troubling times, my brothers.

[CJMinick390]

Amen to that, NJ. These guys are also the first ones to "belly up to the microphone" when their city firefighters do something heroic or a tradgedy occurs that they can turn into a photo op. What can I say, I'm in a cynical mood today.

[FireCapt1951retired]

Sounds exactly like what Detroit has been doing for 2 decades. I remember back to the mid 70's when the Mayor decided to cut the department by 20%. Closing companies and laying off hyndreds of firefighters. The day after they closed old Engine 11, there was a fire directly across the street which took the life of a citizen. The local news asked the Mayor if closing the fire company was the reason that individual lost his life. The Mayors comment will live with me forever. That comment was "People die everyday". So much for politicians and there caring ways for the department and the people they serve and protect.

[AFD368]

To add just a bit to Rangerjim's post, the City of Buffalo has also laid off a number of Police Officers. They have mulled on the local news that some politicians are looking at combining services with Erie County. You can bet that "services" might be combined, but NO POLITICAL OFFICE would be combined. If the City of Buffalo were to combine Services with Erie County, would Buffalo still be considered a City?

[PuffyNPFD]

It is always great when politicians cut emergency services which are vital to the good of the community to fund their own pet projects. Also their fiscal irresponsibility costs hard working men and women their jobs and endangers the lives of the hard working taxpayers. NICE!!!

[AFD368]

Early this morning (7/14), a fire at 69 Harmonia St., Buffalo, NY, went to 2 Alarms and completely destroyed one house and damaged 4 other. 1 minor injury was reported. The unknown here is that Engine 18 would have been the first unit to respond if the Buffalo City Council hadn't closed this Firehouse because of budget cuts two weeks ago.

[PuffyNPFD]

NICE!!!!!!

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

When there is an economic crisis on the lcoal level, the first place that the politicians look to cut is the public safety departments....99.99% of the time it's the fire department first, followed by the police. It seems that pet projects, public works and trash collection are of higher priority.

Ironically, when there is a economic slowdown on the local level, fire and police responses go up! There are more fires becuase of arson for profit, or people cannot afford their cars and hoems and torch them to get out of the payments. Who pays?

Firefighters with blood, sweat and occasionally, tears for a fallen brother.

Police officers tend to deal with more thefts, assaults and domestic disturbances.

Firefighters and police officers go out on line of duty injuries a lot more, due to the number of increased calls and the hazards they encounter...and when one of us dies inthe line of duty, the politicians are the first ones in line to offer condolences (anything for a photo op to show that "they care"

Insurance companies have to pay out on the claim$ for fire, theft, and personal injury...everyone's rate$ go up.

Those who cannot afford insurance get covered by welfare, and who pays for it? We do...on the state and national level.

Meanwhile, the politicians sit back in their offices, funding pet projects, telling the people that they have cut the number of "non essential employees" to stabilize the tax rates, save money and make themselves look good for the next election... I want to say the word..... M***S!

[FFFRED]

For some interesting reading on the topic of closing fire companies and the urban collapse that ultimately results from closures of Fire companies in densly built overcrowded cities of the NE US.

The title is:
"A Plague on your Houses" How New York was burned down and National Public Health Crumbled

by Deborah and Rodrick Wallace

What will result from this and other closings that the politicans are most asuredly eyeing is that Buffalo will see a local increase in the severity and eventually number of fires in that area, along with surrounding company districts having greater alarm fires because they are not in quarters and covering what formerly was Engine 18's areas.

Good luck to the Brothers in Buffalo, Sounds like you are going to need it.

Two cents from a fireman.

[Lewiston2FF]

Th bitter irony of it all is that 1 minute prior to Engine 18 closing on July 1. They were called to a structre fire. Living 15 miles to the north of Buffalo and working 3 miles from the city limits, I see the impact that it is having on the city, and if any Buffalo Firefighters are reading these forums please know that we support you.

[FlyingKiwi]

Say it LOUD MUTTS

[Just a new name]

Last month the city of Trenton NJ shut down 2 engines and a ladder. The capitol of this state sure set a good example.

[firecat1524]

Of course they are going to cut fire and police before garbage pick up. If the trash sat on the street for more than a couple hours the phone would be ringing off the hook at city hall. If a house burns down..."Hey...it was an act of God...the fire Department did all they could do." and you better damn sure carry the party line if you want to keep what you got right now.