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‘Big Lie’ Hits FDNY

'Big Lie' Hits FDNY

To the Editor:

Memo to Cy Horowitz and Jeff Nichols (Jan. 13 letters): Get a life!

Their opinions expressed in The Chief are based on half-baked, erroneous statistics that are simply incorrect. They sound like our Mayor, who is great at doublespeak. If you utter the same nonsense over and over, people will start to believe it.

Jeff and Cy, who are concerned with "fiscal waste" and conserving a "finite number of the city's beans," take note:

According to the Fire Department's own statistics for 2005, the FDNY:

- Answered more than 482,000 calls, surpassing the old record of 459,567 set in 1977 when, as Cy likes to point out, The Bronx was burning;

- Handled new highs in medical and nonmedical emergencies of over 202,000 and 197,000, respectively;

- Responded to more than 28,000 structural fires - the highest level in six years;

- Responded to more than 3,300 serious fires (10-75 or greater) - also the highest in six years.

Considering previous statistics and a ballooning population in New York City, we should open more firehouses and establish new companies. Personally, I'm sick of hearing the "big lie" continually spouted in the media by our Mayor and Fire Commissioner about fires being down.

The fact that firehouses are equipped with beds predates all of us. The constant whining of ne'er-do-wells about this serves no good purpose. Our work chart, which was legislated many years ago by our city fathers, is something that can't be changed by obviously jealous individuals like Jeff, who likes to point out that firefighters "poach" on EMS to keep our membership and salaries inflated (as if we had a choice in the matter).

Jeff, if you want to change our work chart and firehouse accommodations, quit your EMT job and run for public office. Cy, my friend, you say we are "underutilized." EMTs work three platoons, 8-hour tours or thereabouts, something also decided by our city managers. If they don't like staying awake at night, they can quit, go home and go to sleep.

I will never apologize to anyone for our chart or the fact that we are allowed to rest. Our members are like a big insurance policy, ever at the ready.

Maybe Cy and Jeff would like the FDNY to go back to the all-volunteer days, so we can save a ton of money and won't have firefighters reclining on the city's time. Then we can all watch New York City burn down together.

When it comes to fire service, more is obviously better. Why any taxpayer would publicly call for less fire coverage is beyond my comprehension.

GENNARO BONFIGLIO, Captain, FDNY