Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,
Hi Billy
You were absolutely correct! There are about four or five Somerville fire trucks down and out of service at the current time in Somerville.
We had to borrow that from fire truck that you had featured in your video from the Stoneham Fire Department….. imagine??
Most of our fire equipment is just so outdated and just bandaged up to keep them running for now! Disgusting!! Our mechanic tries his best to keep up with the repairs but in reality new fire apparatuses are urgently needed!
Yes, even the rescue so they are using an old small rescue that we have, but it doesn’t fit everyone in it so two of the firefighter first responders have to drive behind it in a car.
An even bigger part of the problem is that even if they were to get the money to get a new truck, it takes a year or 2 to get it and our elected officials up at City Hall have been dragging their feet for years so we are years behind if we want to place an order for one.
Keeping our citizens and firefighters of Somerville safe should be their top priority but unfortunately and sadly it’s not. They are more concerned about bike lanes, speed bumps and their own pay raises ahead of public safety.
A very concerned Somerville Firefighter