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Death by fire in New York City is at an all-time low. Fire Department Commissioner Sal Cassano reported that 60 people died in 2010 compared to 73 people in 2009. The FDNY should definitely receive a great deal of the praise for the courageous job that they do. Keep in mind that there’s a proposal to close 20 engine companies in the evenings. This, in an effort to save $15 million annually. Let’s hope that city officials keep the emphasis on reducing fire death numbers before making unwise budget cuts that might directly raise their total.
Poor behavior and recent booze and broad scandals of some New York City firefighters is forcing officials in the Fire Department to try to clean up it’s public image. One way to do this, they believe, is to eliminate politically incorrect nicknames for firehouses. After a three year battle with a firehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the FDNY has prevailed. That means the “Happy Hookers” firehouse in Red Hook is no more. Gone too is the moniker “Southern Comfort” in Staten Island, “Animal House” in the Bronx and “Fosters” in Brooklyn. Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta believes this is the right approach. Perhaps more severe punishment should be meted out to specific individuals who bring shame to the Fire Department rather than cutting out part of the spirit and camaraderie which all fire personnel and many neighborhood residents enjoy.
