Dear Mr Latta,
We were shocked to learn recently that the MFB wants to cut the number of firefighters protecting Melbourne.
According to the MFB’s Keith Adamson, “Some days we don’t need to have 269 firefighters on duty”.
It sounds like you have a crystal ball that tells you when disasters are going to happen, so you can roster extra people on that day.
If you knew the Coode Island fire was going to happen, why didn’t the MFB stop it?
If you had advance understanding of the seriousness of last February’s bushfires, why weren’t MFB crews out at Whittlesea or Kinglake that afternoon instead of back in their fire stations listening to the drama unfold on the news?
Let’s not pretend we know when fires, accidents and major incidentts will occur. The minimum figure of 269 firefighters is not just a “historical industrial agreement”.
It was a figure set a long time ago for good reason, and Melbourne’s population density and traffic have grown considerably since then.
Cutting back operational numbers means that fire crews could take longer to respond to an emergency in metropolitan Melbourne, and that means lives could be lost and property damage considerably worse.
We don’t want the MFB to save money by gambling with our safety and homes.
Fire protection isn’t free – we pay for it – and, as Melbourne grows, fire fighter numbers should be increased not cut.
I look forward to your response indicating what action you intend taking, and in what time frame, to address this important community safety issue.
Yours sincerely
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