The Flight of the Firefighters
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More than 90 percent of Houston firetrucks had slower response times in July of this year than they did at the same time a year ago. One fire station is nearly three minutes slower when seconds can make the difference between life and death.
An investigation by Houston investigative media firm Dolcefino Consulting documents 24 fire stations with a response time slower by one minute or more. That’s just an average, and remember traffic in July of this year was lighter than it was in 2019 because of the virus. That makes this news even scarier.
“There’s ongoing evidence the Mayor is hiding another real safety threat to Houstonians,” says Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting.” To avoid the bad PR of closing fire stations, individual pieces of equipment at fire stations are being pulled out of service, a dangerous game.”
The response time news comes as the firefighter union says more than 400 firefighters have left their jobs, many because of the Mayor’s treatment of first responders.
“Firefighters are fleeing this city because of the vindictive campaign the Mayor has waged against them, from fighting the right of the public to vote, to the vote itself. This is a matter of public safety and it is time for our timid city council to demand a resolution,” Dolcefino says.
Captain Jeff Lundquist retired early after 29 years in the department. He blames Sylvester Turner and thinks the Mayor will consider it a victory if he keeps firefighters tied up in court with no raises for the next three years.
Houston TV stations have documented the horrible condition of some of the city’s firetrucks, including broken air conditioning in the middle of summer.
Mayor Turner has already spent about $1 million in court battling the voters’ decision to give firefighters equal pay to police. Firefighters haven’t been given a raise in nine years, and with increases in health care and pension costs these first responders make less today than they did when we lost so many heroes at the Southwest Freeway motel fire in 2013. Four dead that day and 13 others injured.
Houstonians followed the story of Iron Bill Dowling, whose injuries that day left him in horrible pain until his death. The most poignant warning of the frustration of our firefighters and the danger to come to your family came from his widow.
Jackie Dowling blasted the Mayor for even showing up at her husband’s memorial service. The comments were made public in a video released Sunday on www.dolcefino.com and Dolcefino Consulting’s page on Facebook.
“We didn’t want him there.. no one liked him.. everyone knows he is trying to screw everbody.”
You can see the response times by station below. Keep in mind, there was a lot less traffic in July of 2020 because of the virus. That makes the slowing response times even more threatening.
“Houston City Council should demand that not a single penny more is spent on lawyers fighting firefighters,” Dolcefino says. “It is the ultimate insult to taxpayers and voters.”
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