Let Fire Patrol Roll: Legislation In Albany
Calls To Restore Privately Funded Property-Saving Unit
NY Daily News 8/26/09
"The patrol is part of this
city's history, and we believe property damage across the five
boroughs increased dramatically since it closed," said Roma, a
tireless advocate for the patrol's rebirth.
The patrol was a separate entity from the FDNY but worked
alongside the city's Bravest.
Patrol members would enter apartments or offices below a fire
scene to pump out excess water and deploy massive canvas tarps
to shield items like computers, files and clothes from the water
streams that rained down from the floors above.
Insurance execs estimate it saved about $10 million in property
a year - and argue it was not worth its $8.5 million budget.
Roma insists the savings were at least double the estimate.
The unit's budget came from an annual assessment levied on fire
insurers and managed by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters,
which claimed that the patrol was inefficiently managed.
State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-S.I.) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow
(D-Westchester) side with Roma and want the fire insurers to
once more pony up the money for the unit.
"They serve an important purpose, and they keep [insurance]
rates down," said Pretlow. "This is money well spent."
The Fire Patrol members who lost their jobs hope the legislation
goes through.
"There's about 50 of us who haven't found new work yet who would
run the patrol again," said ex-Capt. Peter Grieco. "We would
make a real difference."
Not everyone agrees.
A separate bill introduced by state Sen. Neil Breslin (D-Albany
County) would block the efforts of Lanza and Pretlow.
The insurance industry's lobby group also opposes the patrol's
return.
"The organization no longer has any real value," said Ellen
Melchionni, head of the New York Insurance Association, who said
recent improvements in fire suppression systems have drastically
limited property damage.
"The insurance companies who would be funding the patrol don't
think it's necessary," said Melchionni. "Plus, we don't want the
patrol risking their lives to save a desk or computer."
Since its founding in the early 1800s, 32 members of the patrol
have died at fire scenes.
Roma vowed the patrol would continue its mission, even if the
bills that would revive it are defeated in Albany. "If the
government won't do it, I'll go to the private sector or to
foundations," he said. "It would honor my son."
The FDNY declined to comment, and calls to the Board of Fire
Underwriters were not returned.
jlemire@nydailynews.com
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