Inquirer staff writer Jeff Shields reports:
Seven fire companies were closed this Monday morning and 130 firefighters were reassigned to other companies throughout the city, fireighters union chief Brian McBride said.
Local 22 of the International Association of Firefighters has tried to block the closures through the courts, saying the action would put firefighters and the public in jeopardy. But the union lost the first two rounds in lower courts this week, and are hoping for a favorable ruling on their appeal to the state Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the five engine companies and two ladder companies have been deactivated.
Now five different stations are without the ability to put out a fire, because there are no engines -- "no water," McBride said "They might as well be libraries without books."
No comment yet from the Nutter administration, which has taken the position that firehouses will work in tandem to provide proper firefighting and rescue capability.
The closures come as the city tries to close a budget gap.
Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.
Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 3:21 PM
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39 comments
I hope none of these are in my neighborhood. Maybe we can turn them into pubs just like Dock Street!
Tell me how libraries stay open, but Fire Depts close?
It comes down to same ole Philly politics. Mayor Nutter should be ashmaed of himself. The city has lived fat on the wage taxes, never trying to make ends meet.
Why not cut the overpaid staff that he has? His staff is paid millions more than former Mayor Streets staff.
This is why this city is third rate.
Comment removed.
I think one of them is in my neighborhood near a school and a daycare center. When there was an arson fire at the daycare center a couple of years ago (yes, with kids inside) that was the company that came in moments. I do not get the procedures either for closing one department but not another. I think that our beloved Eagles and Phillies ought to look in their books to see if they owe us any money and fork it over. Let's look at property tax abatements also. There have to be more places where they can plug money leaks. This is what Depression feels like, boys and girls.
Hey Baron, libraries stayed open because of a court order. Know what you commenting about before you post something next time.
the mayor of philly is a crackpot.... he needs to go back to whereever he came from....
They need to look at other departments in the city. One of the local TV stations did a report about a Water Dept. employee needed city owned car to go to and from work just for the off chance he may have to go in the field. Which came out to about once a year.
Books burn too! Again the priorties are backwards in Phila! Libraries are more important than a Firehouse...because as we all know ..who needs firefighters and Fire houses ...until we need them!
Dr. Martin von Nostrand - the point that thebaron was making was the judge should have granted the order to have the fire stations open, as they are just better yet more important than the libraries. I am sure the library and fire station in Nutter's neighborhood will remain open. We wouldn't want to put Elmo and the rest of Sesame Street in jeopardy. It's a shame One term Nutter is really hitting us where it hurts!!!!
Baron...if this City is third rate, it's because of the previous administration. You need good, smart people to run a City smarter, faster and better. If the Mayor wasn't closing libraries and fire companies, something else would have to go and then those people would be irate with him.
Like littleonions said, this is what a depression feels like folks. It's going to hurt at first, but on the other end, we'll come out stronger.
Beefy_Issues from the www.iaff22.org website...Engine 1, 6, 8, 14, 39
Ladder 1, 11 are closing.
These closing won't hurt at all. There are way too many fire houses for the number of people in this city. At some point this city and its citizens have to learn that it's okay to change, that there are times when it's necessary.
Mayor Moron, hard at work as usual!!
Hey Little - I'm not sure about the Phillies, but the Eagles owe the City MILLIONS of dollars. And if we collected just ONE TENTH of what deadbeat property owners in Philly owe in real estate taxes, there would be no budget crisis. Always the same problem, no matter what department - police, revenue, L&I, all of them - NO ENFORCEMENT.
Sam P.....you make it sound as if you did a study on the matter......which we all know is a load of horsebleep. So....on what basis can you make such as statement?
Sam Pileggi: You don't know what you are talking about. 8 people have died in fires in Philly in the last month. As a career Fire Fighter I can tell you unequivocally that these CLOSINGS will cost lives. The Fire Department has always been a bare bones operation. There are 3 men on a trash truck and only 4 on a FIRE TRUCK! Now we will be devastated in both manpower and equipment. This will drive up deaths, injuries and accidents. There are not too many firehouses to cover the geographical area and urban density of a metropolis such as Philadelphia. You can't do more with less. You can only do less with less.
Do you people honestly think that the mayor and his cabinet would do something so blatantly unpopular unless he absolutely had to? i'd say we should be happy that every firefighter employed by the city has been able to keep their job, even if their fiscal contract isn't worked out yet.
FYI the aforementioned libraries remain open because they are transferring to private ownership. Learn to read people.
Sam P., or the city can just collect the $522 million owed in unpaid, overdue property taxes. Real estate taxes can be collected after the property is sold at sheriff sale, meaning that one sale of a property results in tens of thousands potentially being paid off at one time, multiplied by hundreds of properties per sale. Why is the city so far behind on collection when all of this property has never been more valuable and the real estate market is holding its value in Philly? Here are the city's own numbers that show the huge overdue property tax debt needed to have a full complement of libraries and fire stations that serve 100+ year old properties. http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary
SueBoo is right -- the city could collect a tiny fraction of the $522 million owed in overdue real estate taxes at sheriff sale, or could just sell the debt to a private collector. That is a lot smarter than and safer, but not if you are a bad politician who needs votes from people who are deadbeats: http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary
Mog needs to learn to read -- only a 5 of the 11 libraries MAY transfer to private ownership under the old plan as "learning centers" that are not libraries at all -- not a solution when the solution is as simple as doing what Rendell and Street both did -- collect the overdue real estate taxes at sheriff sale and quit trying to avoid your legal right and responsibility to collect revenue for the city. Nutter wants to be popular by the most people possible, meaning that everyone will end up hating him for not doing the right thing that is the most fair -- collecting what is owed. Here are the numbers folks -- I couldn't make this up: http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary
Little onions is confused on the law -- we can't "undo" the legal agreement to abate property taxes, and a recent article in this paper said that even if all abatements ended, the total added revenue to the city would only be $2 million per year. The obvious source of revenue is the same source of revenue for every county and school district nationwide -- property taxes. We need them to be objective, so we need FMV, and we need them to be fairly, impartially collected, so we need to fix the sheriff sale process so that it is fully functioning and collecting the $522 million in overdue unpaid property taxes asap. Here's the money that people oddly wish to avoid discussing even as the city needs that money more than ever. http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary
Thank you Mayor Nutter, now when a house on my block is on fire, and Engine 6 is no loner around to respond(which is a pumper truck and caries water on it), Ladder 16 can get there, but uh-oh, the fire hydrant is broke. That pumper truck would've saved a house or even better yet, maybe a life!!!!
Why is the mayor fighting property tax collection when we all know that we can't justify having 4 zip codes in Philly where over 40% of all owners don't pay property taxes, 8 zip codes where over 30% of all owners owe property taxes, and 7 codes where over 20% of all owners owe property taxes? There is just a small fraction of zip codes where the property tax debt is only in the single digits percentage-wise. That's just completely insane, and unsustainable. How long is the press going to just let this go on? Close firehouses, let people roast, close libraries, let people be ignorant, or collect the overdue real estate taxes like a normal city? Here's the breakdown by zip code of what is owed, and some of these zip codes are the hottest in the city: http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/delinqbyzip/index_html?skey=pcent&rkey=pcent
This city is a disgrace, and now I am sure that they will be jacking up my real estate tax after closing down my local firehouse, I am moving out of this ghetto before my house catching on fire. Good riddance Philly!!!
How many people have to die in fires before Mr Nutter gets rid of a couple of his obscenely overpaid deputies and returns the fire companies to operation?
My station closed..... hope we dont have a fire, they will have to come from manayunk, thats always an easy drive up leverington or green lane in a fire truck.
Sam, the geographical size of the city didn't change. It will take fire companies much longer to get to fires. These are the companies that are closing:
E1 - 711 S. Broad St.
E6 - Belgrade & Huntingdon Sts.
E8 - 4th & Arch Sts.
E14 - Foulkrod & Darrah Sts.
E39 - Ridge Ave. & Cinnaminson St.
L1 - 16th & Parrish Sts.
L11 - 12th & Reed Sts.
Guess the Fire Dept. isn't part of Public Safety.
While the closing of both the firehouses and (eventually) the libraries hurt Philadelphia, they are necessary actions by the Mayor. We are in a severe recession, and tough choices need to be made. I would encourage the citizens, city council, and mayor to focus on some other key elements, such as consolidating city agencies, ending the DROP program, slimming down city council by 5 members, collecting unpaid property taxes (or any other scofflaws), asking city workers to pay their fair share of health insurance, etc. prior to taking any other actions. While these are all difficult decisions, we will get through this mess and come out much stronger. Instead of lawsuits and negative feelings, let's all try to come up with reasonable suggestions and try to be supportive of these difficult decisions. GO EAGLES!
There are less important things that could've been cut instead of libraries and fire companies. For instance, cars should be taken from city council because if we have to drive to work, or work functions, we have to use our cars. Cut pay for Nutter's staff and any other grossly high paid city employee. Why did this new 311 call center still open. How much does that cost a year? Some cutbacks are necessary, but Nutter should've atleast taken some of the cuts from his office.
DLTPhilly says we need "good, smart people to run a City smarter, faster and better. I agree. And we don't have them in City Hall now. Vote the bums out. And I agree. List which fire houses are closing and may the ghosts of the fire fighters and those who perish from lack of support, visit those who have planned this crime against our neighborhoods.
Let me say that it's a real shame that most of the citizens of this city have no clue what the fire company closings mean, as evidenced by the stupid comments posted here by Landfill, DLTPhilly (you are an idiot-people are going to die because of these cuts), and especially Sam Pileggi, who takes the cake. You fool, the closings have nothing to do with population, but the geographic areas served. God forbid you have to wait more than a couple of minutes for an engine or ladder if your house is burning-but I'm sure that you'll be screaming loudest when you need them. Think before you post, moron.
Engine 1, 6, 8, 14, 39 Ladder 1, 11 are closing.
Engine 1-711 S. Broad St. Avenue of the Arts, anyone? South Philly.
Engine 6-Aramingo Ave. and Huntingdon St. Fishtown/Port Richmond.
Engine 8-4th and Arch. (Can you say Historic district)?
Engine 14-Foulkrod and Darrah. Frankford.
Engine 39-6630 Ridge Ave. Roxbouough. God forbid it snows, it'll be a while before the next due Engine gets there.
Ladder 1-Ridge and Parrish. North Philly, Center city, this one's really going to hurt.
Ladder 11-1237 S. 12th St. Just in the past 2 weeks have rescued at least 2 people from burning dwellings-and see littleonions comment above.
The point is the Fire Department is stretched pretty thin now with all the EMS abuse-no doubt, these cuts are going to KILL people. But who cares, we still have the libraries, right?
Ok, Dr. Martin von Nostrand of course I knew there was court order to keep the libraries open. I understood the situation clearly prior to making a comment. What provides a higher service to the community? I'd suggest that a majority of data provided at the library is available on-line. Schools provide internet access.
Thanks - southphilly..You get it!
DLTPhilly- I basically agree with you, however, this administration salaries have rocketed. I like Mayor Nutter, but there are still issues with his team. That is not acceptable when "services" are affected. I am most concerned with fire company closings. I realize the belt is tightened, but there are other ways. This city wastes more tax dollars than anyone could imagine.
I still stand by the third rate city comment. I'll reference Penns Landing, Casinos, and Disney.
EC1981..The cost was less than $1 million, and that was all inclusive. This new 311 will take a great deal of stress off the 911 emergency system. 311 has been successfully launch across the nation in many cities and has become quite a effective tool.
NYC uses 311 and has made the 911 more effective, as people no longer call 911 to find out what day is trash day.
Sam Pileggi is right - there are 1.5 million people in the city now. The firehouses were in place for a city with 2.0 million people in 1960. Those are indisputable facts. The same could be said for PWD, PGW, Rec, etc. It's a smaller city, plain and simple. We can keep them open, and get better fire protection, but the cost per person will be higher. Anecdotally, though, think back to the 80's and 90's when we had an "Arson District." Nowadays, either there are no warehouses left or they are worth more as condos than insurance payouts. Things have changed. If extra fire protection is what we want, we'll have to pay for it.
Yes we can!
I live in the Far Northeast. My daughter recently had a febrile seizure while i was at work. My wife called 911 and I left work. I made it home in 28 minutes, 2 minutes ahead of the city ambulance! I wonder if the Mayor needed an ambulance at his house how quickly they would respond?
How about we have Jeff Lurie pay his debt to the city? Why is it that he has not paid yet?
Ridiculous! Maybe make some of the overpaid city employees vacate their positions? Maybe that would close the gap...Or perhaps, tell the unions to stick it and cut pension contributions, maybe then those 55 year olds, working second jobs after retiring with 80% of their $60,000 salary would rethink their approach to "retired to life".
Here are locations of the closings:
•Engine 1 (711-23 S. Broad St.)
•Engine 6(2601 Belgrade St.)
•Engine 8(4th& Arch Sts.)
•Engine 14(Foulkrod & Darrah Sts.)
•Engine 39(Ridge Ave. & Cinnaminson St.)
•Ladder 1(1541-47 Parrish Sts.)
•Ladder 11(12th& Reed Sts.)
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