According to the Washington Post, the number of annual fires occurring in the country has fallen in half of the last 30 years while the number of career firefighters employed has risen by more than half.
Number of Fires Annually Number of Career Firefighters Fires per Firefighter
1985 2.4MM 225,000 10.6
2015 1.2MM 360,000 3.3
% Change -47% +57% -69%
Are the firefighters we are hiring today just wimps? Can't handle the task anymore?
Two words: Government Unions. The International Association of Firefighters brags that it is "one of the most active lobbying organizations in the country". And local governments cave in because, after all, who wants to be against firefighters? Or puppies? Doesn't this sound pretty similar to the NEA's constant whine to reduce class sizes for teachers?
The next time you see firefighters responding to something, notice how many of them show up. Usually two or three times as many as are needed. Because they have nothing else to do. And the statistics above show you why.
No comments:
Post a Comment