The Canandaigua Professional Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local 2098 has issued a stark warning about the ongoing risks posed by what they describe as dangerously low staffing levels in the city’s fire department. In an impassioned public statement, the union criticized city leaders for failing to address the issue despite repeated warnings, calling for immediate action to prioritize the safety of residents and visitors.
“When will the City Council and City Manager just listen to us?” the firefighters asked, citing a recent incident where inadequate staffing hindered their ability to search for a trapped victim while simultaneously combating a fast-growing fire. “Four firefighters cannot search for a trapped victim while simultaneously controlling a raging fire. These are our two primary objectives as firefighters.”
The union said that despite numerous efforts to highlight the risks, city leaders have not responded adequately. “We have warned the City Council and Manager of the ever real and present dangers our community faces with this lack of staffing. Unfortunately, our warnings have fallen on deaf ears,” the statement continued.
Firefighters also urged the community to reach out to city officials, including City Manager John Goodwin and Mayor Bob Palumbo, to demand adequate staffing. They emphasized that the city’s safety is being compromised, describing it as a crisis that endangers human lives.
“Enough is enough,” the union declared. “We take this job, this oath for one reason: to save lives. And our city does nothing to support our oath.”
The union provided contact information for city leaders, urging residents to voice their concerns. They stressed that the community must be seen as more than “dollar signs on pieces of paper,” urging city officials to recognize the humanity at stake.
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