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Your Fire Fighters beleive that a city that manages its core services well, manages its city well. A city that can cover the basics makes a city with a quality of life that is attractive to people, commercial business and industry.

Recently, the City's financial troubles have put a target on the Fire Department once again. Engine Company 3, quartered downtown is slated to be cut because it would be the "least noticed" cut to the department...

...tell that to residents of the west hillside.

Engine Company 3 is the fourth busiest company in the city, responding to over 1,000 runs in 2007. Its fire response district goes from 74th Ave. West to 40th Ave. East, covering over 80% of the City's population. It's general assignment is to "break from the pack", cover the back of the building, and secure a water source (often from a hydrant on a different main water line). This special designation means that personnel training and equipment are suited for operation in alleyways, and areas of minimal clearance.

Further cuts deepen cuts to a department already cut to unsafe levels. Saving 3 Engine is about the public's safety and fire fighter safety.

Fire Fighters everywhere can attest to being at an emergency feeling helpless because they know what to do and are doing everything they can do, but plainly see that more could be done with proper staffing. Sometimes these events take the life of people who trust and expect more when in an emergency. That is not theatrics, it is plain reality.

These City Counselors share our beliefs.

Council At-Large: Jeff Anderson............http://www.votejeffanderson.com

Council At-Large: Tony Cuneo...........http://www.tonycuneo.com/news.php

Council At-Large: Roger Reinert .... http://www.rogerforduluth.com

Council District 2: Greg Gilbert

Council District 3: Sharla Gardner ....http://www.gardnerforcouncil.org/

Council District 4: Gary Krause