Fighting fire with ire

Speculation is spreading faster than a forest fire through parched woodlands: Ladder 11’s days are numbered.

The ladder company shares a station house with Engine 10 at 12th and Reed streets.

But maybe not for much longer.

Mayor John Street’s five-year financial plan calls for 11 fire companies — four engines and seven ladders — to close. As of yesterday, neither the mayor nor Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston had released a list naming the casualties.

Several of the firefighters who staff Ladder 11 and at least one from Engine 10 don’t feel a need to wait for confirmation. They believe Ladder 11 is on the mayor’s hit list, along with one of the original ladder companies in Philadelphia — Ladder 2 at Fourth and Arch streets.

"Oh, I know it’s gonna happen," said one firefighter, who, like his colleagues, didn’t want his name printed. "You’re hearing too many things from too many different people. This ladder is already slated to go to another engine house," he added, pointing to the fire truck equipped with a 100-foot main ladder.

The firefighter said his company received a call from Ladder 5, 711 S. Broad St. — the next closest ladder company — to relay that the equipment would be transferred there.

However, Lt. Jay Cook of Ladder 5 said yesterday he hadn’t heard about the equipment transfer.

"All I can say is that all of these things are speculation," Cook said.

When and if the ax falls on the 16 firefighters, three lieutenants and one captain who make up Ladder 11, most will be reassigned to other stations, which one firefighter maintains would hurt morale at Engine 10 as well.

"We’re a team," he said. "We’re two different outlets, but we’re a team."

Concerns about morale pale next to the danger the reassignments would cause the community, contend the firefighters and Tom O’Drain, leader of Philadelphia Firefighters Union Local 22.

If Ladder 11 disbands, one of several nearby stations would have to send a truck to respond in its place. And that "absolutely puts the community at risk" because that company would have a longer drive, according to the firefighters.

"Cuts will affect response times throughout the city," O’Drain added.

But Lt. Diane Schweizer, spokesperson for Commissioner Hairston and the Philadelphia Fire Department, denies that charge.

"At no time, no matter what ends up being, is the public going to be placed in harm." she said. "I can assure you that we would look at all the data and allocate the resources appropriately to meet all the criteria."

Engines and ladders regularly respond to non-fire calls, including auto and other accidents, medical emergencies and false burglar alarms.

Ladder 11 and Engine 10 are what is known in the fire department as "first in," or the first to respond to the area to which they are assigned. The companies’ boundaries span Washington Avenue to Mifflin Street, and Fourth to 22nd streets.

A ladder company will be called as "second in" or even "third in" to assist other companies in the area.

One of the Ladder 11 firefighters hopes local officials are well aware that they could be personally impacted by any cuts.

"A special message to Council President Verna, Councilman DiCicco, [Councilman] Kenney, [state Sen.] Vincent Fumo and union leader John Dougherty," he said. "All your houses are served by Ladder 11."

Last year, Ladder 11 made 894 "runs," only 103 of which were fires. In 2002, it made 869 runs, of which 81 were fires. And in 2001, 871 runs were made, of which 94 were fires.

At least one emergency medical technician rides on every ladder and engine.

"Every firefighter hired after 1974 is an emergency medical technician," said O’Drain, noting that cutting firefighters also means losing EMTs.

In addition to the 100-foot main ladder, the station has 11 other ladders, ranging from 8 to 50 feet. The truck also is equipped with the Jaws of Life, rapid intervention team equipment — used to rescue a downed firefighter — and portable lights used to illuminate a scene or building. Axes, chainsaws, shovels, hoses and other tools are also compartmentalized in a ladder.

It costs about a million dollars a year to run a ladder and $750,000 to $800,000 for an engine, said one firefighter. Those figures include salaries and wear and tear on the equipment. So the city stands to gain a considerable amount by shutting down 11 companies, the firefighter added.

But it could come at the cost of public safety, the firefighters claimed.

New construction is springing up left and right, and much of it is wood truss — made of wood frames and brick exteriors.

The new townhomes at Jefferson Square, Fourth and Reed streets, are just one example of wood-truss construction, a firefighter said, adding such a dwelling is quicker to burn than one made of other materials.

"If you have a fire burning faster and if response time is too long, there’s going to be a lot more people getting killed," the firefighter said.

As the crew at Ladder 11 remains on edge, those acting on the company’s behalf are still attempting to get definitive answers about its fate.

Last month, O’Drain fired off a letter to Hairston demanding he release the list of companies to be closed.

"He and the mayor have everybody in the dark and I don’t think that’s fair to the taxpayers. Somebody has to hold their feet to the fire," said O’Drain.

The union leader’s letter also asked the fire commissioner for impact studies showing how the closures would impact public and firefighter safety.

The president said all he received was a curt reply from the commissioner’s office taking offense at the suggestion the fire department was risking public safety.

Schweizer, the department’s spokesperson, downplayed rumors about impending closures.

"No one wants to see cuts. There’s a lot of anxiety but until we can put faces on what’s being done, it’s all just speculation," she said.

Councilman Frank DiCicco on Tuesday responded to the outcry of his constituents — many of whom caught wind of Ladder 11’s closure — by requesting a copy of the fire department’s analysis that recommends shutting down fire companies.

His colleague, Councilman-at-Large Jim Kenney, blasted the lack of information.

"This is part and parcel to the Street administration who keeps everything secret. They don’t tell anybody anything, which is bizarre," Kenney said. "They don’t think they owe anybody an explanation, including the public and the people who they represent."

The councilman added he feels there are many other areas of city government and services that can be cut, and the fire department should not be one of them.

"We’re going to fight this as best we can," Kenney said.