Nick Felton expresses concerns at city council hearing on proposed 2013 fire department budget
The head of the New Orleans Firefighters Association expressed concerns about the staffing levels proposed by the Landrieu administration for the fire department next year.
Nick Felton told the City Council Friday during its final hearing on the proposed 2013 city budget that the city has budgeted for 694 firefighters, down from the 824 that were in the department in 2005.
Felton says the reduction in the firefighter force puts the city in a very dangerous situation.
"It puts a threat for increase in life loss, it slows down patient care during medical emergencies and it increases firefighter injuries."
Felton also said, "We are an event-driven town, and it is no time to diminish this fire department that works so hard."
