Hank Investigates: Cause for Alarm 2

What's even more frightening, if another call comes in here, there's absolutely no one in the station to handle it.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Does the public realize what danger they're in?"

Chief Kenneth Erickson
"No, I don't think so."

Walpole's only the beginning. In our exclusive investigation, we contacted every fire department in the state! Sixty per cent of chiefs we talked to report serious staffing shortages...shortages that may put your home and your safety at risk.

Here's the proof. Owners watched this building is burning to the ground! Firefighters arrive too late, they were working on another fire! With a crew too small, its a losing battle.

Jim Flaherty, Norwood Firefighter
"With minimal manpower, not only in Walpole but in a lot of other communities, it's to the point now where it's getting dangerous."

In cape cod towns like sandwich, where the population doubles in the summer, fire departments must rely on barebones staffing.

Chief Dennis Newman, Sandwich Fire Dept.
"If you're working a standard fire, initial response should be 12 personnel."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"And right now you've got?"

Chief Dennis Newman
"We have two. Sometimes there's only one."

In Ipswich, three people were left homeless when the fire got too big for the small staff to handle.

Acting Chief Dennis Durrell, Ipswich Fire Dept.
"It could have been knocked out very easily upon our arrival if we had the correct amount of manpower."

Money for manpower is the responsibility of local governments, and they know they have a problem!

This consultant's report we obtained warned Ipswich years ago, "there are not sufficient numbers of permanent personnel....for a strong and successful initial fire attack."

But no new firefighters were hired! As in many communities, officials spent their tax dollars somewhere else.

Chief Malcolm Larson, Milton Fire Dept.
"You're kind of hoping you don't need the fire dept."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"But?"

Chief Malcolm Larson
"But when you do you want us there quick."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"And can you do that?"

Chief Malcolm Larson
"No."

Firefighters know it's not only staff, but communication that's critical. But our survey reveals almost half of fire departments experience constant communications breakdowns!

In East Brookfield, money is so tight the firefighters don't have portable radios! Inside a burning building, they have no way to signal for help.

Fire Chief, East Brookfield
"It puts them in a very dangerous situation."

And when Milton firefighters heading into the unknown call their stations for backup, often they can't be heard! Their radio equipment is forty years old!

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"It sounded like your firefighters were trying to call in to the station and couldn't get through, is that what was happening?"

Chief Malcolm Larson
"Yes."

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Yes?"

Chief Malcolm Larson
"Yes."

And there's more, budget constraints mean Milton still shares a radio frequency with next door Braintree. So both radio calls from both towns are often incomprehensible or completely blocked. Not only you won't hear them, you won't know if there was anything to hear! So there might have been a vital message and you didn't get it.

Chief Malcolm Larson
"It's outrageous."

State rep Paul Caron has been pushing the state for more fire dept fundings. So far: legislators have said no.

Chief Malcolm Larson
"I think it's a slap in the face to those in the fire fighting community."

And Uncle Sam is no help. We found of the more than 11 billion dollars spent last year for public safety, virtually no federal money went to local fire departments! The result: understaffed fire stations, extended response times, and cause for alarm.

Chief Kenneth Erickson
"If you're relying on us to show up in time to do the rescue for you, you're living in a dream world."

Some towns have been trying to solve their problems, but it's always a question of money and timing. Chelsea for example has been promised a new fire station, but the town still has no where to build it. Since the Worcester fire there's been a flurry of legislation both on the state and federal level to get more money for fire fighters, so far none of it has been approved.