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Under Mayor Pavia’s proposed fire plan, the blaze that destroyed a North Stamford home on Christmas night might have done more damage, according to officials of the Stamford Professional Firefighters Association.

A fire that destroyed an 8,000 square-foot North Stamford home on Christmas night has officials with the Stamford Professional Firefighters Association concerned about how the blaze would have been handled under Mayor Michael Pavia’s proposed fire plan.

At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 25, a single engine from Long Ridge Fire Company responded to a call at 32 Wallenburg Drive (see locator map). When firefighters arrived, the roof and ceiling of the ultra-modern home were on fire. Firefighters from Stamford & Fire and Rescue, as well as from volunteer departments, were then called to assist. Departments in Noroton Heights, Darien, Round Hill, Bedford Village, Pound Ridge, Vista and New Canaan also responded. It took a total of 15 hours to extinguish the blaze, according to Long Ridge Fire Company chief Bob Bennett. 

According to officials at Local 786-International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), had Mayor Pavia’s plan been in place, only 12 firefighters would have been guaranteed to respond to the fire initially, since a proposed second paid fire department would have just two firefighters working nights and weekends at each of the six fire houses.

According to Pavia’s plan, “There are more volunteers available during the evenings and weekends, thus the necessity for only two paid personnel in each fire house during the evening.”

“This fire really shows the flaws in the mayor’s proposal,” Brendan Keatley, president of the Stamford Professional Firefighters Association, said in a statement. “North Stamford will end up in the same boat as it is now, with an undermanned initial emergency response and SFRD being called in anyway to attack the fire with sufficient manpower and resources. “

Read The Entire Article at stamford.patch.com