Union protests mayor’s decision
FirefighterNation Staff
NEW BEDFORD, Massachusetts — Firefighters in New Bedford protest the mayor’s decision to end fire company blackouts by permanently closing a firehouse, according to WPRI.
New Bedford Fire Chief Paul Coderre told WPRI that the blackout policy will end in March with the closing of Station 11.
Mayor Jon Mitchell recommended the closing because the city is unable to financially keep all firehouses open.
Members of IAFF Local 841 gathered at Station 11 to protest the closure.
New Bedford has experienced four fatal fires since the rotating closings, two in the last month.
Union president Billy Sylvia says that the mayor’s reason of financial limits is a lie.
Sylvia says the blackouts have more to do with the city not
hiring new firefighters.
Chief Coderre says that firefighters assigned to the closed firehouse will be
reassigned to other companies.
