Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Salvatore Cassano says the department may have to close 62 fire companies and lay off more than 1,000 firefighters if the New York state budget passes. Cassano also indicated that the FDNY may have to close 20 companies even if state lawmakers manage an infusion of cash, due to New York City’s ongoing financial woes.
Sixteen companies were already set to close last year until the New York City Council came through with funding, delaying the closures for a year until July 2010. An additional four may be shuttered down later this year. The FDNY may try to plug the financial gap by issuing violations to building owners whose fire detection systems set off false alarms.
Read the full report from the New York Daily News HERE.
