DETROIT (WDIV) – Detroit Mayor Dave Bing on Monday said 164 firefighters would be laid off by the end of July.
FRM/FFN: Wave of Arson Hits Detroit Overnight
“Since I became mayor, I’ve made public safety my top priority and I’ve said I would protect the jobs of police and firefighters, but fiscal realities have made this untenable,” Bing said.
Bing said his administration has “every expectation” of being awarded an federal grant to rehire 108 of the firefighters. “Many, if not most, of the remaining 56 firefighters are expected to be recalled to the fire department through attrition,” Bing said.
Until the Fire Department receives the grant, Bing said Fire Commissioner Don Austin and his staff have developed a plan to maintain safety in the community:
- Better deploying engines from adjacent sectors and using newly installed GPS systems in the engines and rigs to best dispatch fire department personnel;
- Conducting thorough risks/gain analysis of interior versus exterior fire suppression;
- Increase the use of CERT and Fire Corps
- Continue community fire prevention education
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing on Monday said 164 firefighters would be laid off by the end of July.
“Since I became mayor, I’ve made public safety my top priority and I’ve said I would protect the jobs of police and firefighters, but fiscal realities have made this untenable,” Bing said.
Bing said his administration has “every expectation” of being awarded an federal grant to rehire 108 of the firefighters.
The mayor’s announcement comes the same day as firefighters battled nearly a dozen arsons in an area on the city’s east side.
Eleven fires sent flames and smoke into the sky at several buildings in the area of Chene and Ferry. Most of the buildings to burn were vacant, but one was a church and at least one had people living inside it.
Detroit Fire Department facts
Total Uniformed & Civilian Personnel = 1257
Total Sworn Fire Fighters = 881
Total EMS Technicians = 248
Fire Suppression = Estimated 30,000 calls for service annually; with an estimated 9,500 false alarms.
EMS= Estimated 135,000 calls for service annually.
