Here is a fun fact I learned today in regards to the Nortel Fire.
Now - we have all been told that Professional Full Time Fire Departments have tremendous advantages which result in faster response times and better outcomes. This makes sense I guess.
So clearly you would believe that the first fire department to respond to the Nortel Fire would have been the City of Monroe. I mean - it only makes sense. They have a full time department, and one of their stations is probably a mile or less away from the fire.
Well - if you would have bet on that - you would be wrong.
The first department I was told responded was Monroe Township, and it sounds as if they commanded the attack - despite what the paper said. Now - Monroe Township is a voluntary department - so this just doesn't make any sense.
Now - the City of Monroe Department HAD to be second on the scene - right? Wrong again.
The second department was Frenchtown Township.
I was told the vaunted City of Monroe department only showed up when the Monroe Township commander called them and told them that if they didn't respond and provide some relief soon - that they were going to pull out.
Now - when I heard this story - I thought no way. This is just people spreading lies.
But then I was shown pictures of the equipment on scene - and there was Monroe Townships ladder truck attacking - and there was Frenchtown Townships ladder truck attacking. What was missing? The City of Monroes Ladder truck - and frankly any equipment from the City of Monroe - was no where visible.
So I ask myself - and the leadership of the City of Monroe - if you are going to by policy let the Townships fight your fires for you - then why don't you just pay them for it - and then we don't need a new 6 or 7 million dollar fire station? Why pay people full time pay and benefits if they are just going to sit in their station while the volunteers do the work? I tell you what - if I was a volunteer that night - I would have been peeved.
Again - the City of Monroe is lacking leadership. They lack leadership at City Hall, and they lack leadership in Public Safety.
Sounds to me like lots of people need voted out of office and fired.