The firefighter union in Fall River is asking the city to add more firefighters after a tragic house fire last week that took two lives. They say that not having enough firefighters made it harder for crews to get to the fire quickly and do their job well.
What Happened?
The fire happened late one night in a home on Bristol Street. Two people, Maria Santos, 58, and her son Javier, 25, sadly died in the fire. Firefighters worked hard to put out the flames, but it took a long time, and the situation was very dangerous.
After the fire, the firefighter union said that having fewer firefighters on duty made the response slower and tougher.
Why More Firefighters Are Needed
Michael Reynolds, the union president, spoke about the problem. He said, “Our firefighters do their best every day, but we don’t have enough of them. This fire shows why we really need more people to keep everyone safe.”
Reynolds explained that many firefighters work long hours and often have to do overtime because there just aren’t enough of them to cover every shift.
“When there aren’t enough hands to help, every minute counts, and that can make a big difference between life and death,” he said.
The Challenges Firefighters Face
Firefighters in Fall River often work 24-hour shifts, which can be very tiring, especially when the team is small. When there aren’t enough firefighters, it can delay how fast they get to a fire and make their jobs much harder and more dangerous.
Fire Chief Mark Evans agreed, saying, “We’re doing all we can with what we have, but clearly, we need more firefighters. More people mean safer work for them and faster help for those in trouble.”
What the City Is Doing
City leaders say they know about the issue and are looking into the Fire Department’s needs. Hiring new firefighters isn’t easy because of budget limits and the time it takes to train new people. But the city is working on it.
Mayor Lisa Thompson said, “Keeping our community safe is the most important thing. We’re working with firefighters and union leaders to figure out how to get more help to protect everyone.”
Why More Firefighters Matter
Having more firefighters on every shift can make a big difference. It means they can get to fires faster, handle big emergencies better, and not get as tired. Experts say having enough trained firefighters is very important to prevent tragedies.
Fire safety expert Sarah Miller said, “If you have enough firefighters ready to go, fires can be stopped sooner, and lives can be saved.”
Community Support
The fire has made many people in Fall River think about fire safety and how much firefighters do for the city. Lots of neighbors want the city to listen to the firefighters and add more help.
Some groups in town are also planning events to remember Maria and Javier and to teach people how to stay safe from fires.
What’s Next?
While the fire is still being investigated, everyone agrees the city needs to be better prepared. The firefighter union hopes the city will act quickly to hire more firefighters.
There will be meetings soon where the community can talk about what needs to be done and share ideas with city leaders and firefighters.
