Mount Vernon firefighters are braving the frigid temperatures
outside and even inside.
Two of the city's firehouses do not have any heat. News 12
was told it was caused by deteriorating equipment at Station 2 and Station 3.
The issues with Station 2 have to do with outdated circulator
pumps that need to be replaced. Station 3's boiler is currently down.
Department of Public Work crews are currently working to fix the
issue.
Officials from the Local 107
union say it's been a chronic issue creating dangerous situations.
The city's fire chief and DPW commissioner
stopped by Monday to check on repairs that have been ongoing for about a week.
"We have a plan, a strategic plan to
actually address these issues and enforce permanent solutions instead of
Band-Aid approaches,” says DPW Commissioner Damani Bush.
Firefighters have been
relying on old electric space heaters, similar to the one that caused the
deadly fire in the Bronx.
"Us as firefighters, we shouldn't have to use space heaters
to constantly stay warm - as you see what space heaters can
do," says Ernie Richardson, second VP of health and safety.
Mount Vernon's DPW commissioner expected heat to be restored by
the end of the day.