The Providence Fire Department took a rescue out of service Tuesday, creating a new source of tension between the firefighters' union and the mayor.
NBC 10 News reported that Chief David Costa made the decision to save money. But the firefighters' union accused Mayor David Cicilline of forcing the decision by not properly funding the department.
The union claims pulling the rescue jeopardizes public safety, and overburdens the existing five city rescues and those in surrounding communities.
"All the taxpayers of the surrounding cities of Providence -- Cranston, Johnston, North Providence, Pawtucket and East Providence -- will now be subsidizing the rescue service in the city of Providence," said Paul Doughty, president of Providence Firefighters Local 799.
The mayor said the union is using scare tactics to avoid losing overtime that members get working on the rescue.
"Let's be clear, this is not about safety," Cicilline said in a written statement. "This is a union using scare tactics in a desperate attempt to defend an unsustainable system that gives its membership overly generous health care and pension benefits that our taxpayers cannot afford."
Cicilline said Costa launched the pilot program a year ago to see if an additional rescue would improve response time.
"It did not," the mayor said.
The chief told NBC 10 News he is hopeful Rescue No. 6 will be put back into service if the money can be found in future budgets.
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