PENSACOLA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS

I.A.F.F. LOCAL 707

POST OFFICE BOX 10833
PENSACOLA,FLORIDA32524 Date:July16,2013 Subject:ProposedReductionInAirportSafety GoodDay: ThePensacolaProfessionalFirefightersrequestyoursupportinmaintainingthecurrentlevelofstaffing atthePensacolaInternationalAirportsFireStation(ARFF).Airportadministrationhasproposedafiscal year2014budgetthateliminatesthreepositionsfromtheARFF.Cuttingthesethreepositionswillhave adirectandsubstantialnegativeimpactonthesafetyofyourairport. FireCaptainistheproposedpositiontobeeliminated.OneCaptainpershiftisstationedattheARFF andtheyprovidethesupervisionforthestationoneachofthethreeshifts.TheCaptainsarevitaltothe operationbecauseoftheresponsibilitiesofthejob.Someofmostimportantresponsibilitiesinclude: Ensuresevacuationhasstartedafteracrash,ifappropriate Directsallemergencyoperations Developstacticsandstrategiesdirectlyrelatedtoprotectinglifesafety Makesallinitialemergencydecisionsthatdirectlyaffectspassengerlives

YoucanclearlyseewhatavitalpositionFireCaptainisandthepotentialconsequencesofcuttingthese personnel.WithouttheCaptainsthosetaskswillnotbeaccomplishedandthePensacolaInternational AirportsEmergencyPlanwillnotbecompliantwiththeNationalIncidentManagementSystem(NIMS). ThenextavailableCaptainislocatedatthefirestationsonSummitBlvdor9thAve.Responsetimesfor theseCaptainscanbeuptoeightminutesbutisatleastfiveandthatisonlyiftheyarentalready detainedatanincident.Whatthismeansforyouisabestcasefivetoeightminutedelaybefore emergencycommandisestablishedandfiredepartmentevacuationbeginsifneeded.Couldyou imaginewhatwouldhavehappenedifthecrashsurvivorsinSanFranciscohadtowaitfivetoeight minutesforthefiredepartmenttobeginanyrescueoperations?Ifanything;theARFFneedsincreased manpowertooperateefficientlyatacrash,notless! TheARFFsstaffingisalreadyataminimallevelandcuttinganypositionisunacceptable.Your passengers,clients,customers,andemployeesexpectahighlevelofsafetyandreducingmanpowerhas adirectimpactonthesafetylevelofyourpassengersandaircraft.WhenyoutaxibytheARFFfire stationandseethosetrucksyoushouldfeelconfidenttheyarestaffedproperlytoprovideahighlevel ofsafety.Wearehereforyoursafetyandshouldcontinuetobereadytorespond24hoursaday365 daysayear.PleasehelpthePensacolaProfessionalFirefightersbydirectlycontactingtheAirport Director,CityCouncil,andtheMayorsOfficeexpressingyoursupportformaintainingthecurrent staffinglevelsfortheARFF. Sincerely, PensacolaProfessionalFireFightersLocal707
AFFILIATEDWITH: INTERNATIONALASSOCIATIONOFFIREFIGHTERS~FLORIDAPROFESSIONALFIREFIGHTERS