Fire chiefs association opposes public safety consolidation (2/9)
The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ board of directors has issued a position statement reaffirming the association’s continued opposition to consolidating fire and emergency service and law enforcement agencies and the creation of public safety officers, according to a IAFC press release. The measure comes in response to a growing trend of some consultants to push consolidation as a remedy for local government officials faced with shrinking local budgets.
“As leaders in our communities, the fire and emergency service is committed to finding ways to help our communities through these difficult financial times, but not at the expense of public or responder safety,” said IAFC President Chief Larry J. Grorud. “Proponents of consolidation fail to appreciate the unique role firefighters and EMTs play in both prevention and response, as well as the critical importance of assessing the specific risks and service needs of each community.”
The position statement specifically addresses the association’s concerns stemming from the:
The IAFC has issued similar positions dating back to 1877, but says it finds no compelling reason to alter its position in our modern world.
“Consolidation of fire and emergency services and law enforcement is still being offered as an easy solution to an increasingly complex problem,” continued Grorud. “We need to leverage our current environment of cooperation and unprecedented resources for risk assessment and data collection, to create new and effective solutions that support continued quality of service at lower costs.”
“As leaders in our communities, the fire and emergency service is committed to finding ways to help our communities through these difficult financial times, but not at the expense of public or responder safety,” said IAFC President Chief Larry J. Grorud. “Proponents of consolidation fail to appreciate the unique role firefighters and EMTs play in both prevention and response, as well as the critical importance of assessing the specific risks and service needs of each community.”
The position statement specifically addresses the association’s concerns stemming from the:
- Vast differences in fire/emergency service and law enforcement mission and training
- Erosion of the company unit
- Exchange of the team concept for individual action
- Lack of understanding of both the broader community service and national context in which the fire and emergency service plays a critical role
The IAFC has issued similar positions dating back to 1877, but says it finds no compelling reason to alter its position in our modern world.
“Consolidation of fire and emergency services and law enforcement is still being offered as an easy solution to an increasingly complex problem,” continued Grorud. “We need to leverage our current environment of cooperation and unprecedented resources for risk assessment and data collection, to create new and effective solutions that support continued quality of service at lower costs.”
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