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Boston Firefighters Refuse to Play "Roulette"

28 comments

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT’S planned “brownouts,” or what we call Firehouse Roulette.  But the Commissioner is having trouble getting the lads to play.  The Boston Herald starts talking about it like this:

Defiant off-duty firefighters are disobeying Fire Department orders and voluntarily staffing three Boston fire companies that were closed today as part of a new “brown out” policy aimed at reducing overtime spending.

“It’s the people’s firehouse. We are volunteering to staff these firehouses to make sure the public gets the protection it deserves,” said Boston firefighters union President Ed Kelly, who used a department radio this morning to report that “Volunteer Engine 20 is in service.”

boston-roulette-a-herald

Firefighters picket Engine 20 in Dorchester,
one of three firehouses that were closed today.
(Boston Herald photo)

Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser, the former Naval officer who admits that he “doesn’t know anything about maintainence,” said the “brown outs” were triggered by 33 firefighters calling in sick, which he called “excessive” but slightly below the normal 36 who call in sick on a typical day.

The commissioner and the mayor have both ordered the off-duty firefighters to not get on the apparatus, not touch any equipment, and not run any calls.  “They’ve ordered us not to do it. But our union’s members are saying, ‘If someone’s house catches on fire, I’m not going to let it burn down,’ ” said Richard Paris, the union Local’s vice president, noting that some firefighters fear that the department will file charges against them for disobeying the order.

Read the Boston Herald story HERE.

Firegeezer will be asking our unofficial fire historian, Mike Legeros, to find out when the last time a Boston firehouse was manned by volunteers.

Posted by on July 1, 2009 • Filed under: labor
  • Keith Morrisett FF/EMT

    Well this just goes to show the dedication that fire fighters have in general for the public they serve.KUDOs to you guys for not playing the city’s game and manning stations in defiance of politically motivated “orders”. Come on Chief, stand tall and TELL the commissioners where to stick it. I bet their PET PROJECTS got funded when the fire dept and police dept budgets got cut.

  • Keith Morrisett FF/EMT

    Well this just goes to show the dedication that fire fighters have in general for the public they serve.KUDOs to you guys for not playing the city’s game and manning stations in defiance of politically motivated “orders”. Come on Chief, stand tall and TELL the commissioners where to stick it. I bet their PET PROJECTS got funded when the fire dept and police dept budgets got cut.

  • Don Fugate

    In what other profession would men put their lives on the line with no compensation and threat of losing their careers . This is what seperates firefighters from other profession , a true committment to the people they serve . Shame on the leaders of the city of Boston and kudos to the rank and file of the Boston Fire Department !

  • Don Fugate

    In what other profession would men put their lives on the line with no compensation and threat of losing their careers . This is what seperates firefighters from other profession , a true committment to the people they serve . Shame on the leaders of the city of Boston and kudos to the rank and file of the Boston Fire Department !

  • Jason Baker

    Way to go yall! Your dedication to duty and community is most admirable, all firefighters should take note of your actions. Chief tell the commssioners what to do with foolish orders.

  • Jason Baker

    Way to go yall! Your dedication to duty and community is most admirable, all firefighters should take note of your actions. Chief tell the commssioners what to do with foolish orders.

  • http://www.jacksonfirefighters.com Jackson Firefighters

    I hope that Volunteer Engine 20 gets to put out a few fires and save a life. They will have fun trying to fire guys for what I call “wrongful life.” These guys are dedicated! It is too bad that the politicians are not as dedicated to the safety of the public.

  • http://www.jacksonfirefighters.com/ Jackson Firefighters

    I hope that Volunteer Engine 20 gets to put out a few fires and save a life. They will have fun trying to fire guys for what I call “wrongful life.” These guys are dedicated! It is too bad that the politicians are not as dedicated to the safety of the public.

  • Mark Bickford FF/EMT

    This is a commendable move by 718′s members. I caution that they be careful because Mayor Mumbles will try to drastically cut their budget even further and then expect the guys to volunteer. I’m sure the lawyers will be stepping all over each other to represent any guy that is punished for going on a run.

  • Mark Bickford FF/EMT

    This is a commendable move by 718′s members. I caution that they be careful because Mayor Mumbles will try to drastically cut their budget even further and then expect the guys to volunteer. I’m sure the lawyers will be stepping all over each other to represent any guy that is punished for going on a run.

  • JFD

    The fire service is a para-military operation. There is a chain of command. You can respectfully disagree with a decision and/or go through your representation. Defying orders is insubordination, and should be dealt with promptly, in spite of the emotions involved.

  • JFD

    The fire service is a para-military operation. There is a chain of command. You can respectfully disagree with a decision and/or go through your representation. Defying orders is insubordination, and should be dealt with promptly, in spite of the emotions involved.

  • Brandon Braam

    Good job boys!
    Stick to your guns, show the city what you think of this BS!

  • Brandon Braam

    Good job boys!
    Stick to your guns, show the city what you think of this BS!

  • Andrew Economedes

    sure is interesting that it is ok for these guys to volunteer due to lack of funds but a community that has all volunteers becacuse it can’t support paid personnel is taking jobs away. I’m sure IAFF would have an “excuse” saying this is different.
    P,S, I am an IAFF member and a very proud volunteer ff-second generation by the way!!

  • Andrew Economedes

    sure is interesting that it is ok for these guys to volunteer due to lack of funds but a community that has all volunteers becacuse it can’t support paid personnel is taking jobs away. I’m sure IAFF would have an “excuse” saying this is different.
    P,S, I am an IAFF member and a very proud volunteer ff-second generation by the way!!

  • Chris

    Good job guys! Way to take pride in your work! This sounds like a page right out of Chief Lasky’s “Pride and Ownership” handbook.
    Unfortunately, our ability to always to “do more with less” seems to bite us in the end. Keep it up and get the press on your side. If the press and public stay on your side, lets see if the politicians dare to be against you then…

  • Chris

    Good job guys! Way to take pride in your work! This sounds like a page right out of Chief Lasky’s “Pride and Ownership” handbook.
    Unfortunately, our ability to always to “do more with less” seems to bite us in the end. Keep it up and get the press on your side. If the press and public stay on your side, lets see if the politicians dare to be against you then…

  • Freddie

    If these firefighters are so concerned about providing fire protection, why do they call in sick so much??

  • Freddie

    If these firefighters are so concerned about providing fire protection, why do they call in sick so much??

  • Larry Parsons

    Is this the same IAFF that is pushing for the two-hatter legislation. It is very nobel of them to volunteer but what about all the men and women who do it and are not career firefighters.

  • Larry Parsons

    Is this the same IAFF that is pushing for the two-hatter legislation. It is very nobel of them to volunteer but what about all the men and women who do it and are not career firefighters.

  • Larry Taggart

    It is to bad that the city has to close three stations, but in this economic climate they are lucky that is all that has happened. I do not applaud the members that are manning the companies, they can be arrested for stealing city property. I see that both the commisioner and the mayor have said to leave everything alone. It appears that the members are not listening. The other problem is, what about your retirement if you get hurt while working one of these companies. I don’t think the members want to hurt thier families. I am a retiter IAFF members, but am also a realist and members have to look at what might happen.

  • Larry Taggart

    It is to bad that the city has to close three stations, but in this economic climate they are lucky that is all that has happened. I do not applaud the members that are manning the companies, they can be arrested for stealing city property. I see that both the commisioner and the mayor have said to leave everything alone. It appears that the members are not listening. The other problem is, what about your retirement if you get hurt while working one of these companies. I don’t think the members want to hurt thier families. I am a retiter IAFF members, but am also a realist and members have to look at what might happen.

  • tom

    I feel the mayor of the city of boston is playing a dangerous game with shutting comming down for a day and then going to another part of the city and doing the same.

    The Fire Department has been throw enough already this year with the death of LT. KEVIN KELLY R.I.P they found out that was due to the mayor not wanting to put the money out to make sure the trucks where safe.

    If the mayor want to make cuts then why dose he not look in his own office and figure out what he dose not need and leave are brother and sister firefighter alone let them do there jobs stop with the brown out before u lose another firefighter or a life of a innocent person.

  • tom

    I feel the mayor of the city of boston is playing a dangerous game with shutting comming down for a day and then going to another part of the city and doing the same.

    The Fire Department has been throw enough already this year with the death of LT. KEVIN KELLY R.I.P they found out that was due to the mayor not wanting to put the money out to make sure the trucks where safe.

    If the mayor want to make cuts then why dose he not look in his own office and figure out what he dose not need and leave are brother and sister firefighter alone let them do there jobs stop with the brown out before u lose another firefighter or a life of a innocent person.

  • Frank

    Clearly, you folks don’t know the full story. BFD had a system where dozens of firefighters would call out sick each day so dozens of other firefighters could work the shift on overtime. The fire department historically blew through their budgeted amount by millions of dollars. No more– if any more than 12 firefighters (about 10%) on a shift, they don’t call any more overtime. Funny thing happened– firefighters don’t call out nearly as often any more now that they realize the OT is going away and the brownouts have been pretty much eliminated– just what the mayor and fire commmissioner were trying to accomplish.

  • Frank

    Clearly, you folks don’t know the full story. BFD had a system where dozens of firefighters would call out sick each day so dozens of other firefighters could work the shift on overtime. The fire department historically blew through their budgeted amount by millions of dollars. No more– if any more than 12 firefighters (about 10%) on a shift, they don’t call any more overtime. Funny thing happened– firefighters don’t call out nearly as often any more now that they realize the OT is going away and the brownouts have been pretty much eliminated– just what the mayor and fire commmissioner were trying to accomplish.