Firefighters protest transfers, Councilman questions administrations reasons

Firefighters are not thrilled about the Nutter administration's plan to transfer nearly 300 firefighters in January to stations throughout the city and on Thursday firefighters plan to stage a protest in City Hall.

City Councilman Mark Squilla said he will introduce a resolution Thursday calling for hearings on the transfers. He said he has received phone calls from concerned constituents.

"We want to know why the administration feels it's necessary," Squilla said. "We want to hear from all sides of the issue."

Leaders of the firefighter union call the plan a dangerous move. The administration says it is simply trying to broaden firefighters' experience which would help those looking to move up the ranks. Firefighters would experience working in all parts of the city and in neighborhoods with a range of different types of emergency calls for service and levels of demand.