Toronto firefighters turn up the heat on council amid potential cuts

The union representing Toronto firefighters is turning up the heat on city councillors as they prepare to debate the 2013 budget that could result in layoffs and other cuts.

“The city has not done its due diligence,” Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (TPFFA) president Ed Kennedy said Wednesday.

“Staff reductions…are irresponsible,” he said, saying that a lack of staff may have contributed to fire deaths in 2011.

Kennedy spoke at the scene of a house fire on Huron Street in Chinatown that killed a 78-year-old woman in October 2011. The news conference is part of the TPFFA’s Seconds Count campaign.

“In 2011, there were 14 fire deaths stemming from 12 incidents. Of those 12, six of the fatal fires had a measurable delay due to an out-of-service vehicle. That’s half,” Kennedy said.

“The longest delay was 365 seconds, over six minutes, which is an eternity in our job.”

Trucks responding to the Huron fire were delayed, Kennedy said, because one apparatus at the closest fire station was out of service. Trucks and crew had to travel farther to get to the home.

Kennedy said he held the news conference because “the city was not listening” to the union’s concerns.

Firefighters hit the streets this week to engage the public on potential cuts to Toronto Fire Services ahead of a budget vote by city council next week.

Emergency services spending is a hotly-contested issue during 2013 budget debates.

Budget chief Mike Del Grande requested all departments including police and fire to hold the line on spending. The TPFFA has warned the lack of increased spending in its current $369-million budget will affect response times. Five trucks may have to be parked, 101 positions will be lost through attrition and a Runnymede Road fire hall may have to close.

Several off-duty firefighters will be at city hall for council’s budget debate and vote. Council meets Jan 15-17.

The TPFFA represents 3,200 firefighters.