President Joe Biden announced Monday that three decommissioned fire companies were being reopened with federal funding, including a ladder truck that would have been the closest responder to a deadly rowhouse blaze started when a Christmas tree caught fire last year.
Quick Read
- Reopening of Decommissioned Fire Companies: President Joe Biden announced the reopening of three previously decommissioned fire companies in Philadelphia, including a ladder truck (Ladder 1), with federal funding.
- Fairmount Fire Tragedy: The announcement comes in the aftermath of a devastating fire in Philadelphia’s Fairmount neighborhood last year, which resulted in the death of three adults and nine children. Biden suggested that the presence of the decommissioned Ladder 1 might have altered the outcome of the fire.
- Federal Funding for Firefighters: Philadelphia will receive $22.4 million to cover the salaries and benefits of 72 firefighters for three years, sourced from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program administered by FEMA.
- Biden’s Remarks at Fundraiser: At a reelection campaign fundraiser, Biden emphasized the global significance of the 2024 election, indicating concerns expressed by international leaders about the possibility of former President Donald Trump’s return to power.
- Focus on Community Safety and Support: The move to reopen the fire companies demonstrates Biden’s commitment to addressing community safety and supporting emergency services, highlighting his policy impacts on “kitchen table” issues.
- Fire Department in Philadelphia: The city, with a population of 1.5 million, has approximately 2,700 firefighters across 63 stations. Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel expressed gratitude for Biden’s concern for the community and emergency responders.
- Support from Firefighters’ Association: The event was attended by Ed Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, and Mike Bresnan, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22, showing support from the firefighters’ community for the federal initiative.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden: 3 decommissioned Philadelphia fire Co. reopen with fed. funds
Newslooks- PHILADELPHIA (AP)
President Joe Biden announced Monday that three decommissioned fire companies were being reopened with federal funding, including a ladder truck that would have been the closest responder to a deadly rowhouse blaze started when a Christmas tree caught fire last year.
The fire in the Fairmount neighborhood last year killed three adults and nine children, and was the worst fire in Philadelphia in more than a century. Mayor Jim Kenney said firefighters sat on the stoop in tears, unable to save all the victims. Biden said that had the company been operational, it might have turned out differently.
“This neighborhood once again has a ladder company on-call 24 hours a day,” Biden said. “On the day of the Fairmont fire, if the company hadn’t been decommissioned Ladder 1 would have been the closest truck to the fire. God only knows whether it would have been able to get there earlier … and maybe save some lives.”
The president’s brief remarks — roughly eight minutes before he headed to a fundraiser for his reelection campaign — come as he’s trying to show the nation as 2024 looms how his policies are benefitting regular Americans with “kitchen table” problems. The Democratic president is also ramping up his fundraising as he prepares for a potential rematch with Republican former President Donald Trump next year.
During the fundraiser, Biden warned donors there would be a global outcry if Trump were to win.
“Folks, we are the essential nation, after all,” Biden said. “We truly are. There’s not an international event that I’ve attended — not one — where the rest of the world doesn’t come up to me, leaders no matter what country they’re from, and say, ‘You can’t let him win. You can’t let him win.’”
There were roughly 100 people at the event.
Earlier, standing in Engine 13 Firehouse, Biden and Philadelphia leaders clapped as the truck hoisted up a ladder and the call went over the radio: “Ladder 1 has officially returned to service.”
The city of Philadelphia is receiving $22.4 million to pay for 72 firefighters’ salaries and benefits for three years. The money comes from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and was made available through last year’s budget. That means three companies — Engine 6, Ladder 1 and Ladder 11 — shut down during the 2008 recession will be reopened.
Philadelphia has roughly 2,700 firefighters at 63 stations for a population of 1.5 million. Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said Biden’s presence in the firehouse Monday showed the Democrat “gave a damn.”
“Not just about the city of Philadelphia, not just about those who run toward danger or the firefighters here at Ladder 1, the great women and men of the Philadelphia Fire Department, but he gives a damn about this community,” Thiel said.
Ed Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, and Mike Bresnan, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22 also attended.
“When the worst happens, when those alarms go off, when everything and everyone you live is in danger, there’s no better sight in the world than a firefighter ready to go work,” Biden said.
