EMS >>>
By GARY LUDWIG
It’s Open Season on the Fire-EMS Service:
Are You Angry Yet?
Local Governments Keep Cutting Firefighter Jobs and Service Levels
A
re you angry yet? I’m beginning to there is less sales tax and other tax revenue many of you do also, who have come
fume. It seems to be open season for local governments. When there is less down with strange cancers with no family
on the fire-EMS service. First, it is money for local governments, they must history and no other risk factors such as
the ongoing firefighter job cuts through- cut their budgets. When local governments smoking or tobacco use. Over 200 studies
out the United States. Next, a consulting cut their budgets, firefighters get laid off. clearly show the link between chemicals
firm comes out with a report saying that The International As- on the fireground and
firefighting and cancer are not related.
And the third blow is a foundation urging
sociation of Fire Fighters
(IAFF) estimates 5,000
If you think the cancer. Other studies
show that the personal
Congress to eliminate all funding to fire-
fighter grant programs. I feel like the fire
firefighters will lose their
jobs before it is all over. For real estate mess protective gear worn in
the past did not provide
service has a huge target on its back. each job that is cut and for adequate protection
I watch the headlines as local gov- every station that is closed, doesn’t concern against cancer-causing
ernments continue to cut firefighter the risk to the community agents.
jobs and service levels. And none of it is goes up. The fire service’s you, think again. Lastly, want some-
any firefighter’s fault. Seems a bunch of job is to manage and miti- thing else to get angry
federal lawmakers decided to let everyone gate fire risk and help preserve life. When about? The Heritage Foundation, which
share in the America dream of owning a you take those resources away, you increase describes itself as a conservative think tank
home. They changed laws and encouraged the risk to fire and life preservation in a promoting public policy through research
a relaxing of loan practices for mortgage community. It seems politicians are all too and analysis based on free enterprise and
companies. Relaxed lending practices, eager these days to accept increased risk in limited government, has asked Congress to
low unemployment, an economy that was their communities. I wish Congress would stop funding The Assistance to Firefighters
not doing badly and low interest rates led pass a law that for any politician who votes Grant and the SAFER Grant programs be-
many people who had bad credit to buy to close down a fire station or eliminate a cause, it contends, the funding has not led to
houses that were out of their price range. firefighter’s job, the fire station that closes fewer firefighter