Houston residents are worried about new fire department directives that would have fewer firefighters responding to calls.
The new policy comes from city officials who are responding to an increase in firefighter pay sparked by the voter-approved Proposition B, which requires pay parity between firefighters and police officers, KHOU-TV reports. The firefighters union president told the TV station that the move is being done out of spite by the mayor.
"Putting citizens and firefighters lives at risk. I think the citizens should be extremely alarmed,” said Marty Lanction, president of Houston Professional Firefighters Association.
Lanction told KHOU that fire captains were told to use fewer crews and apparatus on certain calls. Houston officials will not confirm the report.
