Conn. Firefighters Feel Heat of Budget Delay

NEW LONDON, Conn. --

Firefighters in New London are feeling the heat of the state's budget delay.

Since the beginning of July, the city's fire department had to cut back on fire service because of the state's dreary economy. The department has been cutting one firefighter per shift.

City Manager Martin Berliner told Eyewitness News that he saw the state's financial problems coming down the road in December. He said he negotiated with the firefighters and other unions to reduce the budget and manpower.

"It impacts our ability to put all of our apparatus on the street," said New London Fire Chief Ron Samul. "It effects the operation of one truck company and our third ambulance."

Until June 30, the City Council had approved 18 firefighters per shift. Since July 1, one firefighter was cut from each of the four shifts.

Because of the staffing cut, one line or ladder truck can't operate or an ambulance has to sit idle.

The city must now depend on mutual aid from Waterford or other neighboring towns to help cover its lack of service. The chief said he hopes it's a short-term problem.

"The city manager has been keeping the department heads well advised as to what's going on, but unfortunately, he can't tell us anything because he doesn't know anything until the state actually gets their budget together," said Samul.

Even when a state budget is in place, there is no guarantee that firefighting service will be restored in the city.