Swans, cockatiels and oxygen masks for pets. When did Madison Fire Department start being animal rescue?
Ok, the pet oxygen masks I can understand. If the Fire Department is responding to a fire, and there are pets in the building, this one makes sense.
SWANS
- Stranded Tundra Swan Rescued From Lake Mendota – City of Madison, January 2020
- Two swans poisoned from lead tackle back-to-back in Lake Mendota – WKOW
- Multiple swans on Lake Mendota found with lead poisoning – WMTV
The Lake Rescue Team helped rescue two different swans from the lakes in February. Both of them died from lead poisoning from fishing tackle. Its a sad story. And its unfortunate. Hopefully fisher-people start using something beside lead in their fishing tackle. However, is this how we want our fire department spending their time?
I suppose one could argue that the lake rescue team got some training value out of the incident? But if we don’t have enough personnel to respond quickly to ambulance calls, how do we have time for them to be rescuing animals?
WHAT’S UP WITH THE SWANS?
I asked what was up with the swans at the last Public Safety Review Committee meeting. (Of course I didn’t record it and its not in the minutes, thanks to city attorney’s advice.) Art Price who staffs the committee for the department explained. The call comes in, we don’t control that, what are we supposed to do? He went on to explain that once a lady called about her bird that escaped and Price said he talked to her and convinced her that if he came out and tried to get the first out of the tree that the bird would just fly away. And instead convinced her to put some food out in a cage for the bird to come get.
When will the Madison Fire Department not be Animal Rescue? While they do answer some of the calls, Price also shared that they draw the line at coyote’s. He says when they got a call for a coyote stranded on the ice, they didn’t go. That they consider the staff safety in answering these calls.
COCKATIEL
- Firefighters Use Aerial Platform to Rescue Cockatiel From Tree – City of Madison, February 2020
So, isn’t it ironic that just a week or two later after we had this discussion during the fire staff report, that we see the above press release.
The owner of the tropical bird called 911 distraught because it escaped her home and perched in a tree about a half-block away. With high temperatures that day around 27 degrees and descending with nightfall, there was concern that it would freeze to death. Animal Services Officers were off-duty at the time, so firefighters were summoned to see what could be done.
Ladder Company 8 responded to Concord Avenue. The crew used its aerial platform to bring a firefighter up to the tree where the bird was perched. The bird remained calm and still as the tower drew near. The firefighter was able to get a hold of the bird and safely return it to its owner waiting on the ground, who was most grateful for their help.
OTHERS
- Dog Rescued From Icy Pond At Northside Dog Park – City of Madison, November 2019
- Ladder 1 Rescues Dog From Downtown Rooftop – City of Madison, November 2019
I recalled that there were also recent dog related press releases as well.
CUTESY MEDIA MAKES IT HARD TO ARGUE BUDGET ISSUES
Ok, so the media loves human interest and pet stories. But is this how we want our fire department spending their time, doing animal rescue? I understand the spot they are put in, if they are called, what do they do? But who called the fire department for these things? Is that how you expect your tax payer dollars to be spent?
Next time we are discussing another fire station or ambulance, or the fire department overtime issues, remember these stories. Do our firefighters really have the time to be doing these kinds of things? And if so, do they really need an increase in their budget?
During the last budget session the fire department had the following in their department request:
My staff has compiled five proposals to address the 2020 overtime situation and looks forward to discussing these with Finance and the Mayor’s Office. The proposals to address the anticipated overtime increase include:
1) Increase the overtime budget to address minimum staffing needs
2) Hire 10 additional commissioned personnel in 2020 to increase available field staff
3) Phase-In hire 5 additional commissioned personnel in 2020 and 2021
4) Institute hiring practices to only consider applicants with firefighter and paramedic certifications
5) Rotating Station closures when daily staffing is below minimum target
and
In the 2.5% increase proposal, I have again proposed adding firefighter/paramedic personnel to staff a ninth ambulance unit to provide service from Station 14 for southeast Madison. I’d like to thank the Mayor and the Common Council for the support received in the 2019 operating budget to place a Paramedic on Engine 14; we have seen an increase in utilization of this position for emergency medical responses. However, this solution does not provide for transport services in a medical emergency. The addition of the ninth ambulance would provide emergency transport along with two firefighter/paramedics staffed daily to respond to medical incidents. Also included in the increase proposals are additions to the non-commissioned staff in terms of an Asset Manager to enhance inventory control and supply chain management and a Fire Protection Specialist to assist in plan review and consultation with contractors, business owners, and developers on revision.
Don’t get me wrong, I think we need the things that the fire department is advocating for – but maybe instead of spending staff time rescuing animals and writing press releases about it – they could be working on some of the above.
Or, maybe we want our fire department to be animal rescue and getting our cats out of the trees?
Disagree 1. People will try to save their pets, putting themselves in danger doing so, better to have trained personnel with the correct equipment doing these rescue attempts. 2. It is useful training, the next human kid (or ice fisherman) trapped on the ice will have better odds of a safe, successful rescue since the team responding had time to practice together in a “real life” situation responding to a swan or a dog. 3. Firefighters do public outreach all the time, visits to schools, parades, and events when the public can see first responders and their equipment up close. All these activities are so the public (especially kids, developmentally disabled people and populations who might be wary of people in uniforms) see that these people are there to help and won’t be afraid of them in actual emergencies when we would need a person to take direction from a first responder or be able to answer questions about a situation. Animal rescues are inpromptu outreach events; members of the public can see the responders, see how the process works, gain trust that if they are in the area it is not cause to be afraid or hide from them. These are all really important factors to consider. Finally, with novel viruses and political divisiveness in our communities, a feel-good story with a thankful pet owner isn’t a bad thing once in awhile; it makes us all feel a little closer to our neighbors.