Cuts Could be Looming for Virginia Firefighters

A proposed shared services agreement between the Newport News and Hampton fire departments could in future years result in the departments eliminating firefighters.

Newport News City Manager Neil Morgan's proposed 2012-13 budget does not include cuts to the fire department. But his budget memo does indicate that the new mutual aid agreement -- where bordering stations along the eight-mile Hampton-Newport News border would respond to emergencies without regard to jurisdictional boundaries -- could in the future result in Newport News cutting up to 12 firefighter positions.

The new mutual aid agreement, which still has yet to be voted on by both municipalities, would be part of an overall agreement to improve efficiencies. Other initiatives include centralizing purchasing and the hiring process for both fire departments.

Hampton Fire Chief David Layman said he doesn't know whether Hampton, which has about 200 firefighters, would also cut its fire department. He said they would study response times and calls over the course of one or two years to determine whether cutbacks are warranted.

Morgan said new efficiencies from the shared services agreement could allow them to cut the positions through attrition in the fire department, which has about 370 employees. The cutbacks could take place as soon as the 2013-14 fiscal year, Morgan said.

But Ben Burbic, president of the Newport News firefighters' union, said he finds it "irresponsible" that the city is already talking about reducing the force.

"We're thin in the north and any firefighters not needed in the south could be redeployed to the north," Burbic said.

The city is considering whether to build a new station in Denbigh, to replace Fire Station No. 11, which is temporarily located in a warehouse-like building at the Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport.

Burbic also said that with the increasing potential for new housing in Denbigh, such as the Huntington Pointe development, it doesn't make sense to trim the fire department.

The city recently hired 12 additional firefighters for the new Fire Station No. 3 off of Jefferson Avenue in midtown.

Newport News Acting Fire Chief Scott Liebold said that while a study of response calls needs to be done once the new system is in place, they may be able to cut, through attrition, some firefighters.

"If we have excess capacity, there's no reason to hold onto them," Liebold said.

Liebold said while it's true there may be additional housing in Denbigh, it's difficult to predict the future of the housing market.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service