I felt compelled to write regarding City Council candidate Bruce Philpott and his supposed “pro-public safety” campaign. Philpott has spent several years calling for reduced staffing of the Glendale Fire Department and the replacement of some of our city’s professional firefighters with volunteers or reservists (“Trimming fire staff will save city money,” Community Commentary, Oct. 23). He relentlessly advocates the reduction of engine company staffing from four to three firefighters, a position he has publicly promoted during his seemingly endless presentations to the City Council in the past.
It is my professional opinion that our fire department is currently understaffed and the draconian measures he would like to implement simply won’t work in a city such as Glendale, and ultimately could imperil the public and endanger our firefighters. It would no doubt result in the loss of the coveted Class One rating bestowed on our fire department by the American Insurance Assn. almost 20 years ago.
Philpott is apparently unaware that his position on staffing is directly contrary to the requirements of the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System (a statewide system administered by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services that coordinates fire department responses to major brush fires throughout the state). The Mutual Aid System requires a four-person-minimum staffing of firefighters on responding fire engines. The operational necessity for this requirement is well-established.
Philpott is running a false campaign, and his election could negatively affect the safety of our city. It is my opinion that he is definitely not the “pro-public safety” candidate that he claims. In fact, his public positions prior to becoming a candidate were not “pro-public safety” at all. Why the facade?
