Union: Firefighters working in park was not by choice
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The union representing Wichita firefighters took to social media on Tuesday to speak out against firefighters working at a park. The union warned citizens that it might take fire crews longer to respond to a fire because firefighters were cleaning and moving items at the Brewer Community Center at McAdams Park. The City of Wichita denied there was a problem.
“This morning, firefighters were asked to, if they had time, volunteer to help Park staff move materials for the Brewer Community Center,” the City of Wichita said on social media.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 135 said the work was not voluntary and could have put people at risk.
“Citizens of midtown and midtown East. Be advised that response times could be delayed as firefighters have been ‘contracted’ to pick up trash at local parks while on duty,” IAFF Local 135 posted. “Delaying emergency services to pick up trash at local parks is not responsible to the citizens who pay to have an immediate response to their 911 calls for help.”
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Megan Lovely, City of Wichita communications manager, said the firefighters had their radios on and were ready to respond to emergencies.
“Public safety is our number one priority,” she said. “We have expert fire department staff that would never put the community at risk to help with a cleanup but are passionate about helping the community.”
Lovely said some of the crews did leave to respond to a crash but then returned. The work was finished by 11 a.m. Tuesday, several hours earlier than expected.
She insists the firefighters were volunteering.
“The firefighters who volunteered to help were happy to do so as it helps their colleagues in serving the community,” Lovely said. “Our hardworking firefighters work to serve the community even when they are not responding to emergencies.”
She said other city departments, including Public Works and IT, will help at the Brewer Community Center.
IAFF Local 135 posted an update after the project at the center:
The work at McAdams park is completed. This was the only park that was cleaned up. A buidling needed cleaned due to a new city construction or update project. Trash and boxes of items and furniture and appliances and other things were loaded onto a trailer to be taken to county land fill or saved for future use.
Several fire units were scheduled throughout the day to clean this area.
Contrary to City reports, this absolutely was not voluntary. No other city departments were involved besides firefighters and parks employees.
But, the job is complete and firefighters are back where they belong. Ready to respond to your emergency needs.”
The Wichita Fire Department also posted about the firefighters working at Brewer Community Center on social media.
The City and WFD posts prompted a lot of comments. One person said, “I wouldn’t want my family waiting even 1 extra minute in a burning building while firemen are cleaning a park.”
“They weren’t cleaning a park,” the WFD responded. “They were just helping move items and were still able to quickly respond to a call in the middle of helping for a few hours this morning.”
Ted Bush, president of IAFF Local 135, said firefighters are used to doing other tasks while on duty, including inspections, working out, and grocery shopping.
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“But helping another City entity who is understaffed and underpaid do their required work assignments takes us out of our job description, and there is a possibility of being out of place to quickly respond to an emergency that’s not related to our job description,” he said.
KSN News asked Bush if he had asked the firefighters about whether they were volunteering or not.
“I have confirmed with everyone who works at a fire station, making 911 calls, that they were assigned this task,” he said. “They were not asked to do it. They were assigned to do it by their supervisors passed down from the Fire Chief. I have spoken with firefighters involved, and they absolutely told me they were never asked about volunteering for this assignment.”
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