BROOKLYN WEATHER

FDNY Staffing and Response Times Return to Normal

FDNY Staffing and Response Times Return to Normal

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Out of 350 FDNY units of engines, ladders, rescue squads, only four were closed today, which the FDNY Commissioner Dan Nigro said is actually a lower number of units that would be out on a normal day, due to FDNY maintenance and training.

     On Sunday, the day before the city’s vaccine mandate for city workers went into effect, 26 firehouses were closed, due to staff members who were calling in sick, or otherwise protesting the mandate, yesterday, only 12 firehouses were closed, but the number of firefighters who called in sick was 2,200, which is 1,000 more than usual.

      “There's no listeria outbreak,” Commissioner Nigro told BoroPark24 yesterday. “There's no outbreak of some mysterious disease. And the numbers started going up nine days ago when the [vaccine] mandate was announced.

     “If that is not a ‘sick-out,’ I don’t know what it is.”

     “We’re out there in force, even with 20 units out of service, this department can manage a multiple number of fires,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at his morning press briefing. “The members of the FDNY who are showing at work, doing their job, I want to thank them.

     “What they deserve is for everyone to get back to work and help them do that work. What we have seen is very, very consistent, effective response to fires throughout.”

      Although Commissioner Nigro remains unhappy with the firefighters who are calling in sick to protest the mandate, he said, “Our staffing, thanks to our contingency plan and as the mayor said: folks who are coming to work, has been great.”

    When a reporter asked Nigro whether a fire in Flatbush spread yesterday because fire trucks were understaffed, the fire commissioner said that the fire spread because it was an electrical fire, and that “fires go to multiple alarms for various reasons. 

     “We have had some understaffed units,” Nigro said, “but we looked very carefully at the multiple alarms that occur each and every year when the weather gets cold and the performance of our members has been fantastic.

     “There has been no loss of life. So far, we have been holding the line very well. We can thank our members for working very hard.”

     Meanwhile, the vaccination rates of city workers, who were put on unpaid leave on Monday if they were not yet vaccinated, continues to rise.

     Now 79% of firefighters are vaccinated, and Emergency Medical Services has also gone up to 90%, reported the mayor.

     “So even as people are continuing to have this discussion, the actual people doing the work are making the decision to get vaccinated, and that is powerful,” Mayor de Blasio said. “Firefighters doing their jobs. Firehouses are open across the board. The truth is: response times are normal.”


Photo Gallery: Toldos Tzvi Spinka Rebbe at Derushas Pesichas Hazman in Yeshivas Shar Hamelech in Boro Park
  • Nov 4 2021
  • |
  • 3:30 PM

Living Legacy: The Rebbe Rav Hirsh of Riminov, zy”a, on his 175th yohrtzeit
  • Nov 4 2021
  • |
  • 1:03 PM

Be in the know

receive BoroPark24’s news & updates on whatsapp

 Start Now