In Rick Perry's Texas, Firefighters Forced To Pay For Gear, Engine Fuel

[ashling]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/09/rick-perry-fire-department-cuts-texas-wild-fires_n_956307.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

In Texas, firefighters aren't just battling the wild fires raging around Austin and Houston. The state's first responders have also had to deal with budget cuts affecting everything from fuel purchases to hoses and air tanks.

In some cases, fire officials say, firefighters have had to pay out of pocket for basic necessities like proper protective gear and fuel to get them to the scene. One fire department that battled the blazes in Bastrop County had to pay for a hose, recalled Bastrop City Fire Chief Henry Perry, speaking to The Huffington Post during a break from working the wild fires.

"That fire department has been on this fire every day," he said. "Before this fire, they were having to buy stuff out of their own pocket." Perry said he knows of at least one other department whose firemen had to pay for equipment maintenance and engine fuel.

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. unbelievable. n/t

[joeybee12]

2. Un-phucking believable, I'd say...knr

[dtexdem]

7. Very believable here in Texas.

And it will only get worse, even if people finally come to their senses.

[Chimichurri]

3. If this were Obama, he'd be paying dearly for this. Republicans literally get away with murder.

[bluestate10]

13. Hell, if that was Obama republicans would not have had to lift a finger.

Firedog lakers and the far Left on DU would have taken responsibility for political demolition of the President. Simply look no farther than the fucking hysteria that happens in response to a silly charge or rumor about what Obama is planning.

[gratuitous]

14. So if such a thing happened on Obama's watch

It would only be the "Firedog lakers and the far Left on DU" who would find fault with insufficiently equipped first responders? Well, I'll take that approbation; because any executive who short-changes emergency responders should get taken to task. And if that makes me a Firedog laker or a far leftist in some people's eyes, then that's what I am.

[whosinpower]

15. HA!

What makes you think some texans aren't blaming Obama for this. I guarentee you - they are.

Here is the rationale - Obama spent 15 trillion....and now we don't even have enough for first responders.....And if you remind them that it was the state that cut forestry services....they will nod their head yes, and blame Obama for that too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. We did this as the Red Cross

But we were INDEPENDENT.

Here is, since I bought my own gear. These guys need both structural ff gear and wilderness.

That's 5k per firefighter.

Hose...oh into hundreds of dollars

Brass..don't get me started.

It's crazy.

[JoeyT]

16. +1

Volunteer fire departments deal with this sort of shit in a bunch of places.

It's all worth it when someone that doesn't grasp the concept of volunteer shrieks about how they pay your bloated salary. Which is happening more and more frequently thanks to Fox and the teabaggers.

[kimmerspixelated]

5. Follow the money this prick saved

And it will probably be found in his personal bank account.

[lpbk2713]

6. I expect Chief Perry will be out of a job soon.

For speaking out like that.

I'd guess he wouldn't want to continue the way things are under Rick Perry.

[SpiralHawk]

8. Republicons

Handing out buckets of Republicon Socialism to their Republicon fatcat cronies -- starving our firefighters, cops, and our elderly poor

No wonder no one respects republicons -- they are lacking in honor

[KamaAina]

9. You don't suppose this might be hampering their efficiency in any way?

Because it sure would suck of the anionted top-tier prez candidate's policies were found to be responsible for his state burning down, wouldn't it?

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Nah them over paid firefighters

Can afford the gas!

:sarcasm:

For real I filled the tank of my rig a few times at the end of the fiscal year. It was that or smoke signals.

[ashling]

10. It will be "interesting" when his $10,000 per month

digs go up in smoke.

[Avalux]

11. This is what happens when the government doesn't provide assistance.

People (who don't have much money anyway) have to pay for it themselves or else they perish. Simple as that.

[Botany]

12. Gonna take everything "private"

Brillant thinking ..... save money on firefighters and then cost the state, cities, and counties billions of $s ....... not even to mention
private citizens who will lose everything