“It’s irresponsible and reckless”: New Bedford Fire Department faces more cuts

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) – New Bedford’s Fire Department could see more cuts if the mayor’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 is approved.

Mayor John Mitchell proposed decommissioning Engine 8 on Acushnet Ave. and eliminate 10 vacant firefighter positions. This will not result in the closure of a station.

Mitchell says the engine is no longer needed because dispatch protocols have been streamlined and the fire department no longer needs to respond to medical calls.

“As we looked at the budget, we looked at the areas that we could cut– we looked at the biggest departments: fire and police,” said Mitchell.

Public safety makes up 13% of the city’s $365 million budget for fiscal year 2021.

The mayor predicts the city will save more than $1 million by decommissioning the engine. A portion of the savings would be used to assess the future configuration of fire stations in the North End of New Bedford.

However, the President of New Bedford Firefighters Local 841, Billy Sylvia, says any cuts will put people’s lives at risk.

“T0 cut public safety– that absolutely has to be the last route and the last resort,” said Sylvia. “The area where Engine 8 is is in one of the most dangerous parts of the city for fire. It’s the most populated and densely congested housing that we have in the city.”

He says the department is already stretched thin. Back in March, the city closed Fire Station 11. He says if they lose another engine it will take longer for crews to respond to emergencies.

“If someone’s having an emergency and they call 9-1-1, they need someone there as fast as they can,” said Sylvia.

He also said more cuts will mean they’ll have to rely more heavily on mutual aide.

But that puts more pressure on surrounding town’s fire departments.

“Every single time that they cut something like that, we end up picking up the slack– Fairhaven, Acushnet, Dartmouth– those department have been picking up the slack on the mutual aide calls,” said Eddie Freitas, the President of the Fairhaven Firefighters Association Local 1555.

He said his department will never hesitate to respond to an emergency in New Bedford, but they’re financially spending more by responding to New Bedford than they are in their own town.

“We’re short staffing our own town to help somebody else,” said Freitas.

Councilor Maria Giesta represents Ward 2 which is where Engine 8 is located. She said in the past six months, Ward 2 has had several fires.

She is asking the mayor to reconsider his proposal. Giesta released the following statement to ABC6 that reads in part:

When I spoke with the Mayor I asked him to please rethink his decision, and to use the rainy day stabilization fund and he said No.  He said that he had used the rainy day fund for other budgetary needs. Let me just say, that as a resident and the Ward 2 City Councillor, I am both disappointed and shocked that he would put the lives of New Bedford’s residents and businesses in jeopardy.  Mayor Mitchell must make Public Safety a priority.