(Spokane, WA) Firefighters Face Massive Layoffs (up to 70 first responders

[UpInArms]

http://www.kxly.com/common/getStory.asp?id=40060

The projected losses keep piling up for the Spokane police and fire departments amidst Spokane's budget crisis.

A day after the police department announced it could lose 30 to 40 police officers, the fire department says it could lose twice that many firefighters.

Most of its budget is spent on personnel, and the fire department must trim $4 to $5 million to help balance the 2005 budget. The options are limited to cutting up to 70 staff members and closing fire stations, Chief Bobby Williams said.

...more...

Who needs firefighters? We have the National Guard! Oops! No, we have sent those to Iraq! :grr:

[leftchick]

1. That is just plain scary....

and it is happening all over the country. Unfortunately it only appears to be making news locally. It should be screamed from the rooftops "We are NOT safe with aWol*"! I can not even fathom four more years of death and destruction... :(

[Skittles]

2. it is scary

we all know what happens following layoffs - those left over pick up the slack and it is very stressful. Firemen already have stressful jobs - do they need this? No, and the public doesn't either.