Commentary: Council comments belittle the Costa Mesa Fire Department

At a recent Costa Mesa City Council meeting, I was disappointed to hear Mayor Steve Mensinger and Mayor ProTem Jim Righeimer bash your Costa Mesa firefighters, with Righeimer specifically claiming that that firefighters’ pay and benefits are “destroying” Costa Mesa and the state of California.

Last week, I had the honor of attending the International Assn. of Fire Fighters Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony, where those first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty have their names inscribed on the wall of honor.

I was there with the family of a former Costa Mesa firefighter who lost his life due to job-related cancer. This firefighter gave more than 36 years of his life to the people of Costa Mesa. He gave selflessly, and ultimately, it was determined that the toxic materials that he was exposed to on the job led to his death.

I’d like to see Mr. Righeimer or Mr. Mensinger, who said he agreed with everything the mayor pro tem said about us, tell the family of this fallen firefighter that their loved one, who literally gave his life to the people of Costa Mesa, was destroying our city.

We are prepared to risk our lives each and every day for Costa Mesans. Although we have developed deep and long-lasting friendships with many residents, the overwhelming majority of the people who we serve are complete strangers. We answer the call for these strangers 24/7, oftentimes at great personal risk, because that is what we took an oath to do.

So to hear Righeimer state that your firefighters are apparently the ones to blame for fiscal problems in our city and that “firefighters are destroying California” is both an insult and completely misguided.

Because of the City Council majority’s poor decisions, our fire department staffing has been cut to the bone. You have one-third fewer firefighters today than 10 years ago.

Alarm call load is up 42%! Our firefighters are committed to this city, but we are tired of being scapegoated. We are tired of being forced to work hundreds of extra hours each month to cover for their excessive staffing shortages.

At the same time that city officials brag about a “large budget surplus,” some are insisting that we need even more cuts to your already-decimated fire department. Cuts in staffing mean longer response times. Longer response times can literally make the difference between life and death in a situation where every second counts.

For some, cutting resources and having fewer firefighters might sound like a good option. It’s good, that is, until it’s your time to call 9-1-1 because your child has suddenly stopped breathing or your home is on fire. When that happens, who do you want to walk through the door and how long are you willing to wait for help?

City services determine the quality of life. We support nice parks and libraries. But cutting the Fire Department is not a matter of quality of life. It’s a matter of life or death. That is simply a fact that city officials should consider before they take another unwarranted shot at your dedicated firefighters.

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ROB GAGNE is president of the Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn.