By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Fire Department shut down Ladder 9 at Elmwood and Virginia Monday morning. It's one of the many cuts implemented by the city in response to a fiscal crisis.
Engine 2, which is also assigned to that firehouse, will continue to cover the entire West Side, downtown Buffalo and parts of the East Side.
Buffalo firefighters union president Joe Foley says Ladder 9 provides needed manpower, conducting vital search and rescues. Division Chief Edward Craver says he's never witnessed such low-moral among firefighters.
"It's as low as I've seen it, and I'm been in the fire department for 34 years," Craver said. "We've gone through tough times before. This time, it's pretty bad."
Fire officials say closing Ladder 9 will put the safety of citizens and firefighters at risk.
But plans by the city to lay off 16 firefighters may be delayed. Mayor Masiello is expected to ask the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority for permission to delay the layoffs until at least July 1st.