By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – With arson fires reaching epidemic proportions in Buffalo, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is introducing a proposal that would allow the financially-strapped fire department to hire more firefighters.
So far this year, there have been 192 arson fires in Buffalo, including several over this past weekend.
The fires come at a time when the city is closing fire companies because of its budget crisis.
Standing outside Engine 33 on the city's East Side Monday, Senator Schumer proposed a program he calls SAFER - Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response.
He said it would do for the nation's fire companies what the federal government's COPS program did for police.
Schumer is also seeking an increase in funding from a Federal Emergency Management Agency program that helps local fire departments with equipment purchases and fire house upgrades.
Buffalo Fire Commissioner Calvin Worthy said such help couldn't come at a better time.
The head of the department's firefighters union Joe Foley said the recent rash of arson fires is putting a strain on his members.
Senator Schumer said his proposal has bi-partisan support in Congress. He's hoping to get it approved before the end of the current session this Fall.