Thank You Ed

Cut in firefighters and engines could leave the city unprotected
Published: June 14, 2010


We are writing in response to Mayor Leighton's decision to reduce the number of firefighters and engines in Wilkes-Barre. What we need is more protection, not less. By putting the South Wilkes-Barre engine out of service, this leaves only two engines available. There will be one in central city and the other in North Wilkes-Barre. In 2009 firefighters answered 3,400 alarms. This includes fire, accidents, ambulance and public assist. This will affect the entire city of Wilkes-Barre. When firefighters respond to a fire alarm, two engines must respond. This will leave the rest of the city with no protection. There will be many times when one engine is at an accident and the other is at an ambulance or public assist. This will leave the city unprotected. We hope the citizens of Wilkes-Barre have the right smoke detectors in their home and know C.P.R. because the response time will be longer.

Wilkes-Barre Retired Firefighters Association

Edmund Hahn, President