Mayor William Lantigua is tired of hearing about a lack of firefighters and what he described as "irresponsible comments" by acting fire Chief Brian Murphy about the danger posed to the city.
But with 93 fires and nearly $5 million in property losses so far this year, Murphy said he’s going to keep pushing the issue to save lives.
"We are severely undermanned. It’s only a matter of time before there’s a tragedy," Murphy said yesterday. "So far we have been very fortunate."
Lantigua said the bottom line is money, which the city does not have to hire more firefighters.
"I would love to have a firehouse next to everyone’s home. I would love to have the biggest fire department in the United States. Unfortunately, our resources don’t allow us to do any better than we are doing," Lantigua said yesterday.
As he has before, Lantigua called on Murphy to stop complaining and instead help him find cost-savings so he can hire more firefighters.
"If he has the magic to find the money, I will hire another 50 firefighters," Lantigua said. "He is more preoccupied in criticizing the administration."
Again yesterday morning, Murphy said his department had to rely heavily on out-of-town help when a blaze broke out at 60 Bellevue St., leaving 10 homeless.
A total of 37 firefighters fought the blaze, 16 from Lawrence and 21 from out of town. City firefighters had to respond from the central station on Lowell Street, not a closer firehouse on Tower Hill because it’s been closed due to budget cuts since August 2009.
For months, Murphy has stressed that Lawrence, with a population of 72,000, needs a 148-member department. His current staff, including deputy chiefs, fire prevention and clerical personnel, numbers 104.
He pointed to similar communities, including Brockton, which has 159 firefighters for 94,000 residents, Fall River’s 164 firefighters and 91,000 residents, and the 152 firefighters in Somerville, which has a population of 74,000.
At state meetings, where Murphy regularly meets with other fire chiefs, "nobody can believe the lack of manpower we have in Lawrence."
Murphy also said Lawrence’s price tag on fire damage has doubled in the past year. In 2009, there were 72 building fires that resulted in $2.4 million in property damage. Not counting two fires yesterday, there have been 93 structure fires in Lawrence so far this year, resulting in $4.7 million in property damage, he said.
Last year, firefighters relied on mutual aid from other towns for five multi-alarm fires. But this year, out-of-towners have been called in 22 times so far, Murphy said.
In July, 23 firefighters were laid off to balance the $72 million municipal budget. Eight jobs were restored this fall when the firefighters union and Lantigua reached a cost-savings agreement.
Since then, eight firefighters were injured on the job and can’t work. Running so thin, Murphy said "we are wearing out people."
The rehires, Murphy said, "have had no impact on the strength of the department. We are right back where we started."
Murphy pointed to $5.4 million in city surplus funds recently revealed during an audit and asked why some of that money can’t be used to bolster the Fire Department.
But Lantigua and other officials explained that cash will be used to offset a $3 million deficit in the city’s health care trust fund and pay for repairs to the Guilmette School, where widespread mold was detected.
Lantigua said even if he had cash available to hire firefighters, he would likely have to lay them off on July 1, 2011, when the next city budget kicks in.
"That’s a practice I am not going to engage in," said Lantigua.
Lantigua stressed that he cares deeply about the safety of the city and everyone who lives here. Finances dominate this issue, unfortunately.
"We do care. But we do not have the money," he said. "I know the people whose house is burning. I know the people who are getting hurt."
Firefighters by the numbers
Lawrence, with a population of 72,000, has 74 firefighters dedicated solely to fire suppression and some 30 others who work in fire prevention and administration in the department. Here’s a look at other communities, their population and how many firefighters are dedicated to fire suppression.
Lowell103,229201
Cambridge101,365250
Brockton94,191159
Fall River91,474164
Quincy91,058197
Lynn87,991160
Somerville74,554152
Methuen44,25593
