Critics: Mount Vernon Fire Department Understaffed And Abuses Mutual Aid

[FF402 133]

It’s a budget crunch that has professional firefighters struggling to do their job.

A city of 61,000 protected only by a handful of first responders; the city of Mount Vernon called for help from out-of-town firefighters again last week, CBS2’s Lou Young reported.

“They don’t have proper manning to handle a second-, third-, or fourth-alarm fire,” said Former Yonkers Fire Commissioner Anthony Pagano. “They have to call in mutual aid…every time. Every single time Mount Vernon sees smoke or flames, immediately they call in mutual aid.”

Now free to speak without restrictions, Pagano pointed out Yonker’s most recent fire was the 28th mutual call to Mount Vernon this year.

ARTICLE: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/10/27/understaffed-mount-vernon-fire-department/

[fire patrol nyc 153]

It's the same old story...the current admin. hates (for want of a better word) the fire dept...107 members do the very best they can with what they have which is not much.The admin. cancelled the hiring of several new members and spare parts are nil.Hopefully after the election we may see some progress...it's a long road but it has to start somewhere. The taxpayers of Mount Vernon are being short changed and no one in city hall cares...this opinion is mine and not official...