Open letter to the BET from the Greenwich Fire Fighters, Greenwich Fire Dept
Dear Members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation,
On behalf of the Greenwich Firefighters, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the ongoing support you have shown in funding our fire apparatus and emergency services. We appreciate the recent appropriations for the purchase of two new engines and the use of emergency funds to acquire a used fire truck to address the immediate need as Mr. Fisher has stated. The BET’s commitment to ensuring that our department remains operational is vital to the safety of the residents of Greenwich and the well-being of our firefighters.
Northfield Street Fire. Jan 2025 Photo: Greenwich Fire Dept
That said, we feel it is important to address the ongoing discussion regarding the fire department’s funding and the public discourse around it. The recent articles from both the Greenwich Democrats (In an emergency, BET approves retirement-age fire engine Feb 6, 2025) and the Chair of the BET (FISHER: Democratic “Machine” Lies and Distortions on Fire Engines Feb 7, 2025) highlight the urgency of the situation and underscore the complexity of fire apparatus procurement. We fully recognize the differences in perspectives on this issue and want to ensure that moving forward, we maintain a cooperative approach with both the Republican and Democratic members of the BET. The Fire Department strives to remain bipartisan and is committed to working collaboratively to secure the necessary resources to protect our community.
As you are aware, the Greenwich Fire Department continues to face challenges due to an aging fleet, limited spare apparatus, and staffing constraints. The tragic accident in the summer of 2024, which nearly took the lives of three of our firefighters, led to a crucial discussion with the First Selectman and the Fire Chiefs. After careful consideration, it was agreed that the most effective way to enhance safety and support our personnel would be to utilize overtime funding to assign the seven floaters to essential roles within the department.
The Fire Chiefs are requesting an increase in the overtime budget to assign the floating personnel to critical roles, such as the Incident Management Technician to aid the current Shift Commander Deputy Chief, and the to assist in areas such as IT, the Fire Marshal’s Division, and the Training Division. The First Selectman, acting as Fire Commissioner, and the Fire Chiefs agree that this is the best course of action to enhance the safety of our firefighters and the public while adhering to the town’s fiscal policies with no additional head count for our department.
We sincerely hope that members of the BET will consider this request with the safety of our firefighters and the public in mind and work together to fund the First Selectman Camillo’s and the Fire Chief’s budget request. The Fire Department’s primary concern is ensuring that we are well-equipped and staffed to respond to emergencies and serve the needs of Greenwich residents.
Thank you again for your support and for the appropriations already made for future fire apparatus. Now we need the BET’s help to fund the new staffing model that does not add to our headcount while increasing the safety of the firefighters and the public. We remain committed to providing the highest level of service to our community and look forward to working with the BET to secure the resources necessary to keep Greenwich safe.
Sincerely,
Greenwich Firefighters
Greenwich Fire Department