Canandaigua's firefighters union is asking people who live, work or own property in the city to contact City Council in support of increased firefighter staffing.
In a Thursday evening statement, Canandaigua Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2098 said the appeal followed questions from supporters about how they could help after the union raised concerns about staffing and community safety.
Mayor Thomas Lyon said the city has doubled its career firefighter staffing over the past decade and must weigh additional hiring alongside mutual aid and financial sustainability. His response also cited a newer study that he said recommends phasing in more staff over several years.
The union said staffing studies conducted by the city and the International Association of Fire Fighters reached similar conclusions supporting more personnel. It encouraged residents to refer to its pinned post about those studies when contacting council members.
“Increased staffing is needed!” the union wrote.
The union framed its request around firefighters' ability to respond safely and effectively, protect residents and return home safely to their families. It thanked people for their comments and support following its earlier staffing statement.
Mayor cites staffing investments and mutual aid
Mayor Thomas Lyon said the city has doubled its number of career firefighters over the past 10 years, exceeding an earlier Center for Public Safety Management study's recommendation to increase staffing to 18 firefighters.
Lyon said a more recent CPSM study recommended phasing in additional staff over several years, but its top recommendation was to strengthen relationships with surrounding mutual aid services.
The mayor said Canandaigua has the most career firefighters among Ontario County's three paid fire departments, identifying the other two as the City of Geneva and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Lyon described NFPA 1710 as a recommended staffing level for a structure fire, saying many smaller municipalities rely on mutual aid to meet their communities' needs. He said evaluations of fire protection must consider regional resources, mutual aid, community risk, operational capabilities and financial sustainability.
He pointed to assistance at the Beeman Street fire from the Veterans Affairs Fire Department and the Bristol, Cheshire, Crystal Beach, Farmington, Hopewell, Manchester and Victor fire departments. Other public safety agencies and organizations also supported the response, he said.
Lyon emphasized that no residents or emergency responders were injured and that the fire was contained to the initial area. He said the city would continue supporting and investing in public safety while balancing the needs of Canandaigua and the larger community.
Appeal follows Beeman Street fire
The new push follows the union's account of the Oct. 11 three-alarm fire at 5 Beeman St., where it said only four city firefighters initially responded.
As previously reported by FingerLakes1, the union said those firefighters had to search occupied apartments, advance hoses and establish a water supply while important outside safety duties went uncovered.
The union said no personnel remained outside to operate the engine pump or aerial ladder, place ground ladders for rescue or emergency escape, or manage the scene once all four firefighters were committed inside. It also said arriving Veterans Affairs firefighters assigned to a standby firefighter rescue team were instead needed to help search for residents.
The fire displaced residents from several apartments. The Canandaigua Fire Department reported no injuries and identified assistance from several surrounding departments.
Union directs supporters to council contacts
The union linked to the city's City Council page, which lists the mayor and council members and provides their email contacts.
Local 2098 also invited people to message the union directly, saying its members are willing to sit down with anyone who has questions about staffing and the concerns they have raised.
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