Mayor Reopens Gloucester Stations

November 15, 2006 – Following persistent pressure from Gloucester, MA Local 762 and a string of tragic events, Gloucester Mayor John Bell has conceded to reopen two of the City’s fire stations. Two years ago, the City closed the stations for budgetary reasons.

The “Citizens for Public Safety,” a community group organized to recall Mayor Bell after a string of fires and fire-related deaths resulting from the station closures. In addition, Local 762 – which provides both fire and EMS services – reported three preventable medical deaths.

Public concern escalated following the death of Bridget Cleary on October 1. Fire fighters were called to the scene, but arrived 13 minutes later – too late to rescue Cleary, who died from smoke inhalation. The fire station just three minutes from Cleary’s home was closed.

Clinton Carroll, president of Gloucester Local 762, says, “It’s a shame that it took this tragedy for city officials to find funds to reopen the stations.”

One of the two stations is operational 24/7, while the other is fully staffed at night but only if enough fire fighters are on duty during the day.

“In my opinion, Cleary would be alive today if we had responded from the other station,” says Carroll. “It was a small fire, and was extinguished quickly, but she was overcome with smoke inhalation. It was as if she was being asked to hold her breath for 13 minutes. Nobody can do that.

“Everybody knows that we need more fire fighters, and that all of our stations need to be open all the time,” continues Carroll. “We will be sitting down with the City soon to begin contract negotiations, and we have reasonable hope that the second station can be fully operational.”