Firefighters warn of proposed cuts’ impact

By Chris Harris, New Era staff Writer

The Hopkinsville Fire Department’s ability to fight and prevent fires would be reduced if Mayor Dan Kemp’s proposal to cut the department’s budget is approved, Fire Chief Fagan Pace Jr. said Monday.  The cut would restructure the fire department employees and force them to run three-man trucks instead of the usual four-man operation, Pace said. Trucks from two stations would have to go to each call because of certain regulations.

The first group to arrive would have to wait to enter the building and fight an internal fire until a second truck arrived with more manpower. Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires two fire fighters remain outside the building while two are inside in case someone inside goes down.

“Obviously that’s four,” Pace said. “Three does not equal four.”

Kemp’s fire department proposal is part of his attempt to lower the city’s dependence on its reserve funds. By cutting a proposed 12 firefighters from the department, the city would save an estimated $600,000 a year in payroll and health benefits.

Cutting fire department staff has been proposed twice before during budget time and was rejected both times.

“In my opinion, we are already minimally staffed,” Pace said.

Hopkinsville has two firefighters per 1,000 people and those firefighters are all cross-trained to run ambulances as well. Paducah and Ashland have the same amount, but they do not operate the ambulance service.

Pace said the fire department’s services would decrease if staff was reduced. Community education programs, response time and the ambulance service would suffer.

Yellow Ambulance also serves Christian County. The company mainly services nursing homes and hospital to hospital transfers. The fire department is dispatched for most 911 calls.