Fire Coverage Was
‘Thin’ In LIC: Marshall
by john toscano

Photo Dominick Totino Queensborough President Helen Marshall says “thank you” to firefighter at Engine Company 261 last week.

During a six-hour period last Thursday, fire coverage was spread very thin in Long Island City as the ladder company from shuttered Engine 261 was assigned to Roosevelt Island and another nearby fire company was out of service, according to Borough President Helen Marshall.

"This was a dangerous game of Russian roulette," the borough executive told the Gazette.

Fearful local residents have complained—to no avail—that the six-hour hiatus will be the norm if Engine 261 remains closed.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice James Starkey did not issue a ruling on suits brought to reopen Engine 261 at 37-20 29th St., in the Dutch Kills neighborhood which was closed on May 25 by order of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Engine 261 was one of six firehouses closed that day by the mayor to save money and help balance the budget.

The day before Marshall reported the thin coverage in Long Island City, City Councilmember Eric Gioia (D–Woodside) appeared before Judge Starkey with others seeking the re-opening of the firehouses and claimed "a victory for the rule of law, and for all those served by Engine 261" as he left the courtroom after a brief session.

Although on Wednesday the judge had reserved his decision on the suit to reopen Engine 261, Gioia said, Starkey had agreed with the lawmaker’s brief, which argued that proper notice had not been given that the Bloomberg administration intended to close Engine 261 and the five other firehouses.

The following day, Marshall said she learned from fire officials whom she did not identify, that Ladder 116, which shares space in the same firehouse with Engine 261 was dispatched to Roosevelt Island for six hours while some work was being done on the Roosevelt Island bridge.

During part of that time period, Marshall continued, Engine 260, located at 37th Avenue and 12th Street was also out of service. Marshall stated, "Western Queens was very thin on fire coverage at that time and I’m very disturbed and concerned about this."

Calls to the Fire Department for comment on Marshall’s statements were not returned.

The borough president also had another complaint that a reported new policy could place the Long Island City area in further danger. She said the report says that the neighborhoods where the six firehouses were shut down could face longer response times for medical emergencies.

Under the new policy, two fire companies in an area must be available before the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) unit from one house can respond to an accident or other mishap. "Otherwise no one will be allowed to respond," she said. According to her information, this will lead to longer response times for anyone in need of EMS services.

Regarding the court action on last Wednesday, Gioia said that the upshot of the judge’s comments was, "Mayor Bloomberg was told, you have to play by the rules like everyone else. In its haste to rush to close firehouses, the city ignored the simple words of the City Charter, our city’s constitution, that written notice must be given 45 days in advance of a firehouse closing to the area served by the firehouse.

"Specifically, notice must be given to all City Councilmembers and community boards whose districts or borders include areas served by the firehouse. However, notice was given neither to Council Speaker Gifford Miller, whose city council district includes Roosevelt Island, nor to Manhattan’s Community Board 8, which encompasses Roosevelt Island."

Sharkey agreed with the petitioners that notice had not been given and directed the mayor’s counsel to serve notice by the end of the day.

Later that evening, Gioia joined with members of the Dutch Kills Civic Association for a candlelight vigil to protest the closing of Engine 261. Among those present were Jerry Walsh, president of the civic group, and George Stamatiades, a former president.