Capital Offense
Vacancies at Federal Fire Departments Jeopardize Security of
Federal Military Facilities in Nation's Capital
Washington, D.C. – The International Association of Fire Fighters
today sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, warning that
security at critical military installations in the Washington, D.C., area is at
risk because of more than a dozen vacancies in the fire departments responsible
for responding to emergencies.
Federal fire departments at the Washington Navy Yard, the Naval Research Lab
and Bolling Air Force Base are short at least 14 fire fighters.
“Staffing Naval and Air Force facilities in the Nation’s Capital should be a
high priority, national-security issue,” IAFF General President Harold A.
Schaitberger said.
Naval District of Washington Regional Fire Chief Edward Stillwell said in a
July 2 e-mail that 12 fire fighting positions at the Navy Yard, Naval Research
Lab and Bolling AFB will remain vacant because the department’s overtime costs
are too high.
“Cutting overtime costs is easy – fill the vacancies so there are more people
to cover the shifts. You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand that.
The Naval District of Washington Regional Fire Department’s approach doesn’t add
up, jeopardizes the safety of fire fighters and places important federal
facilities at risk,” said IAFF 16th District Vice President Jim Johnson, who
represents fire fighters at federal installations.
Nearly 90 percent of members of the National Capital Professional Federal
Fire Fighters approved a vote of no confidence in Chief Stillwell in April
because of his stubborn refusal to ensure the safety and health of fire fighters
and his indifference to the diminished emergency response to critical military
facilities.
“Personnel shortages hinder our ability to protect our important federal
facilities and make it harder for fire fighters to do our jobs safely,” said
Greg Russell, president of the National Capital Professional Federal Fire
Fighters Local 121.
The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC,
represents more than 288,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics
who protect 85 percent of the nation’s population. More information is available
at
www.iaff.org
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