Jul 26, 2009 3:29 pm US/Eastern
Fire Departments Dealing With Budget Cutbacks
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Rescue workers from around the country traveled to Baltimore this weekend for the Annual Firefighters Convention. The event highlights the newest in safety and technology.
Tim Williams reports on how cutbacks in most stations makes it challenging for many attendees to continue this tradition.
From around the country, nearly 17,000 firefighters converged on the Baltimore Convention Center. The week-long event revisits tradtion and introduces technology.
"It shows a lot of the new stuff coming out to help our firefighters become more safe," said Vincent Fanelli.
But just like in Maryland, they need to stay safe despite budget shortfalls.
"We have cutbacks all over. It's a challenge for fire companies around the nation," said Edward Pearce, who's from New York City. "We run two used ambulances because we can't afford to buy new. We're in the process of maybe selling our headquarters to move to a different place, to a cheaper area, to raise funds to buy new ambulances."
In Baltimore, city budget cuts could mean the closure of Engine 36, among others. The company has been on Edmonson Avenue for five decades.
Station 31 in the Waverly, northeast Baltimore community needs a $2.5 million renovation.
"We haven't put enough money into them in the past to keep them modernized," said Baltimore City Fire Department Chief Jim Clack.
Two million has to come from federal stimulus money. Donations are down.
"If people knew what these officers needed, they would give," said Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
In nearly 30 years of hosting this expo, organizers have never battled economic times this tough. Firefighters say they had to search their individual station budgets just to get to this event.
"We really didn't see a drop in our attendance. We're very pleased," said expo organizer Mary Velline.
"We'll keep doing what we're doing. We've been through worse; we'll get through this," Pearce said.
This year, Baltimore City's Fire Department is celebrating its 150th anniversary.
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