Firefighters respond to Middletown staffing shortages
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Providence (WLNE)- The Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters called the Middletown Fire Department’s staffing “totally inadequate” in a statement issued today.
In response to a house fire on Tuesday that sent a man and his daughter to the hospital, RISAFF President Joseph Andriole said “the events yesterday could have easily resulted in
the loss of life.”
Firefighters from Newport were on the scene at Woolsey Rd. several minutes before the Middletown Fire Department arrived. Additional emergency response was received from Portsmouth.
“It took resources from two other communities to handle this incident,” said Andriole, “this is grossly unacceptable.”
As Middletown and the Fire Department remain in contract negotiations, Andriole urged the town council to work with firefighters.
“I hope the events yesterday can be a wake-up call for town leaders to do the right thing and to work collaboratively with the firefighters to fix this public safety problem,” Andriole said.
©WLNE-TV/ ABC 6 2020
