To whom it may concern,

As a former firefighter paramedic from Hialeah, FL who has recently moved to Forsyth County, I must express my concern about the level of Fire Protection Services in our county.

Shortly after arriving in Forsyth County, I visited my local fire station, Station #9. As I approached the station I must admit I was impressed with new Fire Engine parked in the engine bay. My immediate sense was that the county officials have seen fit to provide their firefighters with high quality, modern equipment.

My impression changed quite dramatically when I found out during a conversation with the on duty crew that staffing at this particular station is currently two firefighters per shift.

It is also my understanding from this conversation that some stations do have their equipment staffed with three firefighters.

For the general public who drives by our fire stations and sees the shiny red trucks out front they may feel a false sense of security at the level of fire protection being provided.

When a fire or other emergency occurs there are many tasks that need to be performed by the firefighters on the responding apparatus. Having just two firefighters to perform these tasks not only puts the public in grave danger but also puts our brave firefighters in additional danger.

Another danger that occurs from such poor staffing levels is that more equipment must be dispatched from around the county to provide adequate personnel on an emergency scene to provide the manpower to secure the emergency. This has its own negative effects on the community.

1. More apparatus responding to the scene of an emergency, increasing the risk of an accident.
2. Areas of the county must be left unprotected while the fire apparatus assigned to that area are responding to another area of the county, just to provide adequate manpower to an emergency scene.
3. Increased response times.

Two firefighters on any fire engine or truck is totally inadequate and puts the public in grave danger.

The taxpayers of Forsyth County deserve to have a Fire Department that not only has top of the line equipment, but the proper staffing of our fire apparatus to protect us.

Respectfully yours.

Michael J. Sloan