Savage Flatbush blaze, tenant death, raise questions about effects of FDNY staffing cuts

[RamboLiberal]

"She was just trapped. She couldn't get out. She was so alone. She was all by herself, calling for help..."

The words came from Linda Harris Wednesday morning. Tears were streaming from under her sunglasses. She cradled a bouquet of purple and yellow flowers she had brought to the scene of Saturday's fire on E. 29th St. in Brooklyn in the City of New York, where too many engine companies that once had five firefighters now have four and where there is talk of closing 20 firehouses.

"Oh my God, the most genteel Southern woman. She was a true Southern lady..."

Harris was speaking of Mary Feagin, 62, who perished in her sixth-floor apartment. Feagin came to Brooklyn from South Carolina and she taught for 32 years, until her retirement in December, working with special needs children at PS/IS 323. Harris is the principal there.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/02/24/2011-02-24_savage_flatbush_blaze_tenant_death_raise_questions_about_effects_of_fdny_staffin.html#ixzz1Etq9kQCQ

Be prepared for more deaths like this because of cutbacks in public employees. Yesterday it was Philly where the closest fire station was closed in what is called a brownout.