Rolling closures hit Phila Fire stations

Today marks the start of rolling closures for Philadelphia Fire Department companies. Fire fighters, city officials and residents gathered outside Engine Co. 57 in West Philadelphia to protest the so-called “brownouts”.

By Aaron Moselle

Today marks the start of rolling closures for Philadelphia Fire Department companies. Fire fighters, city officials and residents gathered outside Engine Co. 57 in West Philadelphia to protest the so-called “brownouts”.

Under the plan, five fire companies will close daily for the day shift or the night shift, but not both.

The closures are part of the Nutter Administration’s effort to save close to $4 million a year.

Bill Gault is president of Local 22, the union representing the city’s fire fighters and paramedics. He says the “brownouts” are like a ticking time-bomb.

“This city has been so lucky in the last eighteen months that they haven’t had multiple incidences. It’s biblical and it’s luck. But it’s going to happen. We’re going to have two things happen at the same time and we’re going to be decimated.”

Everett Gillison, deputy mayor for public safety, has said the “rolling brownouts” will not compromise public safety and that they’re necessary to avoid layoffs and permanent closures.

23 of the city’s 56 companies will be part of the rotating closures.