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Addressing Fire Department Staff

Safeguarding residents and businesses against the threat of fire is among the most important responsibilities of municipalities that can afford paid fire departments.

But there are other priorities, too, ranging from protection against crime to keeping streets in decent condition. Getting it all done can be difficult in the best of circumstances.

Coping with something less than that, as Steubenville officials have had to do for several years, requires tough, often unpopular decisions.

Earlier this year, city officials had hoped they could obtain a federal grant to retain some firefighters in danger of being laid off because of budget constraints. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected the city’s application, Fire Chief Carlo Capaldi reported this week.

“I believe we would have received the grant if not for so much turmoil in the press and social media,” Capaldi added.

While it is doubtful FEMA officials were swayed by those factors, it might be helpful to learn precisely why they turned Steubenville down. Learning that could help city officials in applying for other grants in the future.

But the FEMA decision may force city officials to take another look at fire department staffing.

A retirement scheduled for Sunday will take the department down to 37 firefighters. Capaldi, referring to a table of organization that calls for a total of 34, said he worries that without the federal money, the city may lose three younger firefighters. The chief added he hopes the city can obtain another federal grant early next year.

City Manager Jim Mavromatis pointed out Steubenville officials need to determine just how many firefighters the city needs and can afford. “I know Weirton, which has a larger population and a larger area to cover, has 23 firefighters,” he said, adding, “I want to be sure we are properly staffed for a city our size and for the safety of the residents and firefighters. And this decision needs to be made now.”

Mavromatis is right. At some point the federal grants will dry up permanently. Making the difficult decisions about fire department staffing as soon as possible will serve all concerned best.

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