Fighting For 293 And 261 Again

Although a blue ribbon panel will not report on proposed closures of city firehouses for several weeks, Queens activists are already gearing up for a fight to stop any such moves.
Next Saturday, March 15, at 11:00 a.m., protesters will gather on the steps of City Hall to make their voices heard, according to the office of Councilwoman Yvette Clarke, chairwoman of the Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee and local protests will lead up to the City Hall gathering.
"Any closed firehouse is one too many," said Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr., who is helping organize a rally in front of Woodhavens Engine 293 for this Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
Several months ago, the Bloomberg administration targeted eight firehouses across the city for closure as part of a multi-million dollar cost-cutting plan for the fire department, including Engine 261 in Long Island City and Engine 293, the Woodhaven "Wildcats."
But the plan met with vocal resistance, and the administration and City Council agreed to the creation of the panel, which is scheduled to release a report on March 21.
"At this time, no firehouses are slated for closure," said Joseph Cestari, a spokesman for the fire department.
Jordan Barowitz, the mayors first deputy press secretary, described the upcoming protests as "premature," since the panel is still compiling its report.
Some groups, however, doubt the panels even-handedness, since five of its seven members are mayoral appointees three, including Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, are high-ranking FDNY representatives and two, Stanley Brezenoff and Geoffrey Canada, are direct mayoral appointees. The final two members are City Council appointees.
"I think its going to be a one-sided decision," said Thomas DaParma, Queens trustee of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA). "Its going to be what the mayor wants to hear."
That decision, he continued, will involve at least a partial implementation of last falls proposed firehouse closures.
Indeed, one of the mayors own deputies described the creation of the panel as a "political punt" in published reports a few months ago.
For residents of south Queens, fears associated about firehouse closures are steeped in history. In 1991, two brothers died in a Richmond Hill fire. Engine 294, the company nearest their home, on 109th Street, had been closed a week earlier.
Though then-Mayor David Dinkins denied closure of the firehouse was the reason for the deaths, locals still blame his administration. The company that responded that day responded five minutes later than Engine 294s likely response time.
At a sizeable protest rally in late November of last year, locals demonstrated the depth of their concerns and their commitment to Engine 293.
"Bloomberg should be homeless, hungry and unprotected," said 20-year Woodhaven resident Anna Truz at the time. "Maybe then hed have a clue about what is really important." Her husband, who suffers from brain damage, has repeatedly been helped by firefighters at 293.
"I dont know what we would have done without their help and I dont want to find out now."
On February 20, Engine 293 was the first to respond to a fire at a home on 86th Street and 91st Avenue, enabling a ladder company to save the lives of the four people inside the building.
As of press time, a protest had not been scheduled for this weekend in front of Engine 261, but Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. expressed his concerns about the companys fate.
"Closing 261 would affect my district," he said, "because firehouses here would have to stretch over a wider area."
Engine 261 is a first responder for Roosevelt Island, which has a large handicap population, notes Vallone. And, according to DaParma, the company also covers the Queensborough bridge.
The mayors original plan to close eight firehouses would save the cash-strapped city $2.5 million.
"Thats not much when youre looking at a $3 billion budget deficit," said Addabbo.
And it does not address local safety concerns.
"I dont care what dollar amount you give," the councilman continued. "You cant compare dollar amounts when you consider the danger to residents."