PelhamToday received the following two letters to the editor regarding James Culic’s piece, 'Niagara Doesn’t Need all These Fire Chiefs'
Firefighting is a lot more than just spraying water
The Hot Take Columnist James Culic’s piece titled “Niagara Doesn’t Need all These Fire Chiefs” is not just uninformed and insulting to fire fighters and their families. His sentiments, strung together with hastily gathered factoids, pose a longer-term danger to public safety in Niagara.
Firefighting is dangerous work that can lead to injury or death on the scene and can lead to severe long-term health problems like occupational cancer and post-traumatic stress. Communities rely on their fire fighters to keep them safe.
Culic suggests that firefighting is not dangerous because these public servants mostly spray buildings with water. Culic’s “hot take” says more about media consolidation and the decline of journalism than public safety.
Had the author put in more effort, he would have learned there is much more to firefighting than spraying water. He would learn fire fighters are highly trained to respond to any emergency and are prepared to risk their lives to protect others.
Fire fighters respond within minutes, knowing someone’s life may hang in the balance. They use countless hours of training to swiftly size up an emergency scene and search for civilians in danger. If someone is in danger, they respond.
Fire fighters do not just respond to fires; they respond to road accidents, hazardous gas leaks, and an alarming number of drug overdoses. They rescue cats from trees and people from swift-moving water. And, as we saw the past year, fire fighters in Canada and elsewhere are battling wildfires. Fire fighters are called upon to respond to major natural disasters, chemical spills, and terrorist attacks.
Firefighting is difficult and dangerous work that can lead to burns and other injuries that pull firefighters off duty for months or death, leaving a community grieving. Throughout a career, fire fighters can develop chronic injuries and deadly diseases like occupational cancer. We now know the bunker gear worn to protect fire fighters are laden with toxic PFAS chemicals that seep into the body and sicken them.
Fire Departments perform a critical function for the overall health of a community. They require strong and organized leadership. They need experienced fire chiefs to manage operations and effectively deploy resources at all hours. Good fire chiefs are in high demand. The idea of consolidating the demands of several fire chiefs into one role is courting disaster. This is one bad idea elected officials around Niagara should not test drive.
Is firefighting more deadly than commercial fishing? Maybe not. But that does not change the reality that firefighting is extremely dangerous. Most of the public understands this and respects fire fighters for their work. Fire fighters do not enter their careers looking for an easy job or good money. They do it because they enjoy a challenge and believe in public service.
Option one:
Good journalism also provides an important public service, and columnists can play a vital role in educating and enlightening the public. Though, typically, a journalist becomes a columnist following years in the field reporting, speaking truth to power, and gaining wisdom. The Hot Take columnist skipped this first step, and it shows. Taking pot shots at hard working fire fighters and fire chiefs, hoping for clicks, is childish and unhelpful.
Option two:
Good journalism also provides an important public service, and columnists can play a vital role in educating and enlightening the public. Taking pot shots at hard working fire fighters and fire chiefs, hoping for clicks, is childish and unhelpful.
Fred LeBlanc, IAFF 13th District Vice President
Kingston, ON
Amalgamating Niagara fire services makes sense
As the Niagara dailies recently reported, Port Colborne firefighters were troubled by the approval of a dual fire chief role. I think it’s important to understand the role of a labor union is to represent the collective interests of its workers. Municipal politicians on the other hand have a fiduciary responsibility to make decisions about municipal financing and services that is in the best interest of the taxpayer.
Council wanted to move forward with an exploratory committee to investigate a joint shared services arrangement to share a fire chief between the two municipalities. One only has to look at the amalgamation of the Lincoln and Grimsby pilot project to provide shared fire protection to see the benefits of amalgamation. The pilot was been deemed a success and has received recognition for the amalgamation.
In addition, Dr. Marvin Ryder, who was the transition head for the City of Hamilton merger, noted during the City of Hamilton amalgamation they were able to address many inefficiencies as a result of the amalgamation. Dr. Ryder identified fire services as an area where many efficiencies were found because of the consolidation.
Its also important to note Niagara currently has 11 fire chiefs whereas the City of Hamilton has 1 fire chief.
In this circumstance, although the union raised concern that this appeared to be more than a stop gap measure and raised concerns about the diversity of the two communities, most councilors decided the city owes it to its residents to at least investigate alternatives and did not want to shut the door on any options and keep an open mind.
This is stark contrast to what occurred with Niagara Falls City Council. Niagara Falls heard a recommendation from the CAO to amalgamate Niagara Falls fire dispatch service with the City of St. Catharines service (which is an obvious duplication of service within our region)
Niagara Falls estimated the sustained annual savings to taxpayers of approximately $240,000 by outsourcing dispatch operations in addition to other potential savings. The firefighter union was not in favor of this motion, and showed up at city council to show their support against this motion, as it would have a direct impact on its members. It should be of no surprise that Niagara Falls City Council voted unanimously against the motion.
Significant governance reform is needed here in Niagara in order to reduce the duplication of service and the costs of the duplication to the taxpayer. Clearly, the only way this will happen is with provincial intervention. #timeforchange
Allen McKay
St. Catharines
