While a members of the Hammond Indiana Professional firefighters took to the streets educating the public about the risks of the loss of staffing on one of it’s 4 aerial trucks in a area that is very heavily congested by railroad tracks. Members decided to inquire about the safer grant. After finding out they meet the criteria to apply for the grant the Union leaders decided to approach the Mayor and his staff about the good news. After being ignored members brought the ideas to the city council. The council posed the question to the mayor who responds on video as saying he is not interested in receiving firefighters through federal grants and although while being reassured many retirements were in the years to come and these members would help the mayor insisted on closure of this apparatus and refuses the grant. Hammond is a suburb bordering Chicago and has been named among the busiest fire departments for cities it’s size.
