The Wall Street Journal - May 07, 2010

Twenty firehouses would close across the city and the Fire Department of New York would lose up to 399 firefighters out of a total of roughly 11,600 uniformed officers and 3,200 emergency medical technicians.

In addition, the fifth firefighter on 60 engine companies would be eliminated to save money.

The news was not well received by some who said that firefighters also were first on the scene over the weekend in Times Square after a bomb plot was uncovered.

"We will always be first on the scene as long as the fire houses are open and staffed," Uniformed Firefighters Association president Stephen Cassidy said. "We can't be there if Mayor Bloomberg gets his way and closes the fire companies."

Sal Cassano, commissioner of the Fire Department of New York, said he is "very concerned. When you close 20 fire companies, that has a rippling effect on the whole city."

Officials said they worry response times will be slower, but Mr. Bloomberg says fires have been on the decline in the city, whereas the terror threat has intensified.

The firehouses that will close in June are expected to be announced next week. Of the 20 firehouses, there were 16 that the city council managed to save last year that were not included in the baseline budget and an additional four added to the chopping block.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly denied speculation that the police department funding was restored in the budget due to the Times Square bomb, and said the force would still be down 6,000 officers from its peak of 41,000.

"Even with the restoration of these police jobs, the NYPD will continue to struggle with 6,000 fewer police officers while shouldering the added burden of fighting terrorism," said Patrick J. Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association. "We must remember that the most recent attempt at terrorism in Times Square was only foiled because there was a police officer on the corner."