The Fishers Fire District (NY) Board of Commissioners’ efforts to dissolve the fire department – with no concrete plan in place to provide emergency services to the Town of Victor – is on hold for now.
The IAFF, the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association (NYSPFFA), and Fishers Professional Fire Fighters and Drivers Local 4907 are fighting to keep the public – and career fire fighters – safe.
“We got in this fight not only to save our members’ jobs, but to preserve the safety of Fisher residents from [the Town of] Victor,” 1st District Vice President James Slevin said. “Dissolving the fire department is reckless, putting lives and property at unnecessary risk.
“We are doing everything we can to get the board back to the table to discuss a more reasonable solution.”
Slevin sent a team to Victor, including a 1st District field service representative and a strategic campaign specialist. The team launched a public information campaign to make sure the community had all the facts.
Twenty-four members of Local 4907 staff two fire stations full time, responding to 1,300 fire and EMS calls each year in the town of nearly 16,000 residents.
Members were in the midst of negotiating their next contract when the District Board of Commissioners, citing anticipated financial challenges, announced it would consider a resolution to dissolve the fire district at its next meeting.
The IAFF team and the Local worked to encourage residents to attend the July 16 meeting and submit public comments. More than 300 people attended the meeting.
“Unfortunately, the board refused the offer to use a local high school gym and instead opted for the basement of our Fire Station 2, which only allows for 60 people at a time per safety codes,” said Local 4097 President Tom Krewer. “Still, the board heard the public’s outrage loud and clear: Our residents do not want to get rid of the fire department, and they have serious concerns about what the closure will do to emergency service.”
Accordingly, the board tabled the vote on dissolution. However, the vote is expected to occur at the next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 20. The fire department could be forced to close its doors as early as Sept. 1.
“We are here to make sure that the members of Local 4907 do not have to stand alone. And we will continue to support our members until the future of the department is secure,” said NYSPFFA Secretary-Treasurer Eddie Santiago, an IAFF 1st District service representative assisting with the effort.
