LETTERS
departments
Against Study Committee
Regarding Police and Fire Consolidation, December 1982 issue; it is difficult to believe that a study committee from a city of 80,000 people would even consider discussing a supplemental full time force with volunteers, part-paid fire fighters or public works employees.
Also stated in the article was that a fully funded full-time fire department was ideal but no longer feasible, and l ask what constitutes a fully funded fulltime fire department for a city of 80,000 people? Is it 164 fire fighters? 120? Or maybe only 80 persons?
In Illinois, the majority of the communities surrounding the metropolitan area of Chicago do not have the luxury of having over two fire fighters per one thousand population. They do a very good job providing excellent service with an average of 1 to 1.5 fire fighters per 1000 population.
When economic conditions warrant a lowering or cutting of a fire department budget, then the chief of the department should be the one to implement it and not a study committee. This is happening right now throughout the area. Personnel in several fire departments are not being replaced through attrition. This, I believe should be recognized.
Albert L. Hoelbl Fire Chief Niles, Illinois
Helmet Warning
High heat situations and increased impacts from falling debris in the fire fighting environment have made the No. 350 Senator Aluminum Helmet unsuitable for structural fire fighting, warns Cairns & Brother Inc.
The helmet, which Cairns & Brother manufactured from 1925 to 1974, is basically a construction-type helmet that conducts electricity, does not adequately resist penetration, and is easily knocked off the fire fighter’s head. When worn with the chin strap, the design of the brim can create lever action, leading to serious neck injury, adds the manufacturer.
The technological advances in fire fighting headgear have made the 350 Senator obsolete. Company officials strongly urge fire companies which are still using the aluminum helmets to remove them from service.
