Roanoke Firefighters Battle Budget Cuts

Story by Rhett Fleitz

Photos by Michael Overacker of RoanokeFirefighters.com

The Roanoke Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1132, led by President Rodney Jordan, met in Roanoke City Council chambers to voice their concerns against a proposal by Fire Chief Hoback of the Roanoke Fire -EMS Department. The proposal calls for a reduction of 6 positions in operations and 1 in administration. These positions will be at the cost of an Engine 13 being taken out of service and a reduction on Ladder 7 (run as a Quint) from a minimum of 4 to a minimum of 3. Ladder 7 has only been run as a Quint for about a year, when Engine 7 was taken out of service and replaced by an ambulance. Roanoke Firefighters were promised that the staffing on Ladder 7 would remain at a minimum of 4 due to not decrease manpower at Station 7.

In all, 91 firefighters met at the IAFF Local 1132 office and donned matching t-shirts to show a force in solidarity during the meeting. Just prior to the Council Meeting starting, the firefighters travelled and gathered in front of the Roanoke Municipal Building for a group picture. This was the largest gathering of firefighters in a long time, the largest seen by most of the newer firefighters. In all, the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association membership includes 259 of 262 possible members in the department.

The Roanoke Firefighters feel that the City Council was very receptive to the talking points they brought up. In all, 8 firefighters who hold the rank up to Battalion Chief and 1 retired firefighter spoke to Council. They all talked on pre-arranged topics and did not overlap topics at all.

The most moving speaker was Firefighter Scott Hetherington, who just two days prior had returned to work. Scott suffered from cardiac arrest while advancing a line inside of a house fire. He was quickly removed from the house and revived on scene by firefighters.

For more information check out RoanokeFire.com

For more pictures visit RoanokeFirefighters.com

Roanoke Firefighters gather at the Local 1132 Union Hall
Firefighters gather inside Council Chambers	Local 1132 President Rodney Jordan gives an interview