Two recent letters to the editor have been critical of the Everett firefighters’ endorsement of Brian Sullivan for mayor. They failed to mention that he is also being endorsed by many other organizations, including Everett’s police officers.
Our firefighters have concerns about their ability to respond to emergencies effectively, according to National Fire Protection Association standards. This is because the city has raided their budget for years, cutting it to the point of closing a fire station and shutting down paramedic units on a piecemeal basis, which are termed “brown-out status.” This can cause response problems in many cases.
If you’re having a heart attack or your house is on fire, time is extremely important. Aging fire engines that are out of NFPA compliance are still being used for frontline response and, I’m told, breaking down on a regular basis. It is interesting to note that the total number of firefighters is exactly the same as it was over a quarter-century ago, even though the city has grown dramatically both in area and population. This doesn’t make sense.
The city administration needs to bring a remedy for these problems in the interest of public safety. Firefighters and paramedics are a noble breed. It is said that “They run toward danger when everyone else is running away.”
Jack Scherueble
Everett
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