Aug. 12 2003 NY TIMES
Fire Department Says It Erred in Describing Data on Closings
By MICHELLE O'DONNELL

he New York City Fire Department acknowledged yesterday that it had incorrectly described data last week about the arrival times of emergency vehicles in neighborhoods where six engine companies were closed in May. A department spokesman, Francis X. Gribbon, called it an "honest mistake."

Last week, department officials had said that while the arrival times had increased by 11 to 47 seconds in five of the six neighborhoods, they were pleased that the responses were shorter than projected. But yesterday the department acknowledged the figures were for any first vehicle on the scene — including ladder trucks or battalion chief vehicles — not just engines, as Mr. Gribbon said last week. Only engines are equipped to douse fires or handle medical emergencies.

After the two firefighter unions questioned the findings last week, Mr. Gribbon had insisted that the figures, for June and July, were only for engine companies. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta had rejected the unions' criticisms as "grossly unfair."

Yesterday, Mr. Gribbon said that the data was being reconfigured to exclude all vehicles except engines, for a better comparison. The unions contend that the times would be longer if they included only engines, although the department has never calculated response times that way.

"The Fire Department's response time reflects whenever that first unit on the scene presses a button that says, `We're here,' " Stephen J. Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said last week. "They're still a long way from putting out the fire."

The acknowledgment came after union and fire officials discussed the report. "The whole situation cries out for an honest count," said Martin J. Steadman, a spokesman for the other union, the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

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City playing with fire Memo warns of danger from FDNY cuts By MICHELE McPHEE DAILY NEWS POLICE BUREAU CHIEF Six neighborhoods that lost their firehouses on Sunday could face longer response times for medical emergencies, according to an internal FDNY memo obtained by the Daily News. Engine company firefighters have been making Emergency Medical Service runs since 1995, and they get there on average nearly two minutes faster than FDNY ambulances, department statistics show. But the memo - sent to FDNY dispatchers a day after the firehouse closings - says fire companies now first in line to cover the six neighborhoods should not respond to medical emergencies unless backup companies are available. Pat Bahnken, head of the Uniformed Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Union of the FDNY, said the increased response time could mean more deaths from heart attacks and other medical emergencies. "My EMTs and medics can get there within six minutes, but if the firefighters can get there in four minutes, there is a much higher chance of survival," Bahnken said. Last year, city firefighters responded to 156,461 medical emergencies, getting there in an average of 4 minutes and 21 seconds, according to FDNY statistics. It takes ambulances more than six minutes. Grim outlook "People are going to die because we don't have first responders in those neighborhoods," said Dave Rosenzwig, leader of the FDNY Dispatchers Union. Fire Department officials have acknowledged that response times will increase with the firehouse closings. FDNY spokesman Frank Gribbon said an updated computer database to dispatch medical runs will help cut down response time. He said it is not uncommon to hold backup responders when the first company is busy. Mayor Bloomberg has said no one will be endangered by the fire company closings, which will save the city about $8 million a year. But union officials are pointing to the medical runs as another example of the way the firehouse closings affect public safety. "People are being told that there will be no impact on public safety with the closure of these firehouses, but the truth is that without a certified first-responder engine company, the likelihood of a person being saved from a possible heart attack has decreased tremendously," said James Slevin, the vice president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. Originally published on May 29, 2003 ____________________________________________________________________________________ The Mayor has said that he is closing firehouses based on recommendations of his blue ribbon panel. A letter dated April 7, 2003 from Mr. Scoppetta, the Fire Commissioner to the chairperson of CB 1 says they considered 3 top statistical criteria: ( in laymen’s terms) The response time of the fire company to the area the closed company formerly covered as “first due” on the scene. the number of actual fires worked by a company The response time of the fire company to the area the closed company formerly covered as “second due” on the scene. They also considered total runs, medical emergencies and “workers”- runs where the company performed  work, not necessarily fire-related. Additionally they claim to have considered street layout, geographic obstacles, workload impact on remaining area companies, and “perimeter companies. The analysis was based on historical data, and analyzed by a computerized model. the results are essentially estimates. Moreover, the Panel has not stated how “historical” the data used is, nor the time range used. Most statistical analysis deals with a specific range of data, which in this case may make the results less, rather than more accurate. The reality is- Response times will increase. As the UFOA report says:”Anyone who tells you the elimination of engine companies and rescue squads will not have a negative effect on public safety is lying to you.” The response times that the mayor refers too are based on best case scenario- they do not take into account time of day, traffic patterns, and unforeseen circumstances.They do not state the “adequate response” time: It takes a company 3-4 minutes to get into their gear and out the door The Mayor’s response time measures from door to door and stops the clock. The reality is that once the rig pulls up to a fire, it takes time to set up, stretch the hose, put the ladders in place, get the water on the fire- it could be another 11-12 minutes. Every minute doesn’t count- every second does. Because companies are now cut back from 5 men  to 4, response time is again increased, and necessitates more companies having to respond. Cutbacks create conditions that not only make it more dangerous for residents, but also for firefighters. Changing Demographics and Neighborhood structures are not accounted for: Practically every neighborhood that will lose a firehouse is lower to middle income, working class Each of these neighborhoods is getting large increases in population as they are discovered to have reasonable rents, convenient to other areas or resources,or have picturesque qualities.Several of the poorer neighborhoods are on the verge of gentrification and the majority are in areas slated for major development. Check out Engine 204’s section to see what is happening there and why more fire protection, not less is needed.According to an article in the Brooklyn Paper, the DOT already has a full-time coordinator to study the traffic issues. It is called Downtown Traffic Calming Project. They admit that this area has a traffic problem now and will only get worse.Their words were "The big problem is the proposal (Bloombergs 100, million plan) simply doesn't deal with the traffic and congestion and parking scarcity that affects downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods." Other key points - Most recommendations argued against closing firehouses and FDNY cutbacks Our Fire Department has not been given the equipment and training they have been told is needed. Yet public officials still  claim this is done. The Mayor has been given a number of innovative and pragmatic ideas to prevent firehouse closings. He has resisted them and has refused to remain flexible on these issues.. Statistics do not give a true picture. Response times given by officials are “best case” scenarios. Reality- traffic, time of day, number of calls at a given time, street obstructions, unforeseen circumstances- those are all factors that make for a “real” response time- when a firehouse responds, reality sets in. It takes 4 minutes for a fire to grow by 1100%. As a taxpayer and voter your officials work for you. Never let them forget it. Safety is non-negotiable. It is not a privilege- it’s a right. back to top