FDNY Hands Volunteers Pink Slips

By DOMENICK RAFTER

In a controversial decision, the FDNY has “booted” all of the city’s volunteer ambulance corps from its 911 emergency response system.

In an e-mail in December, a high-ranking EMS official told 911 dispatchers that the VACs were no longer needed to be included in the system. The decision affects all 35 of New York City’s VACs, the majority of which, 17, are in the borough of Queens.

According to the New York State Volunteer Ambulance Association, the city’s nearly three dozen VACs respond to between 10,000 and 15,000 calls annually.

The decision led to a war of words between some local VACs and the FDNY. Fire Department spokesman Jim Long said the decision to cut off the VACs was made six months ago, and that VACs never responded to calls on the 911 system. Local VACs called the claim “ludicrous” and “factually inconsistent.”

Alan Wolfe, President of the Forest Hills Ambulance Corps, said VACs have assisted the FDNY in the city’s worst disasters, including last year’s swine flu epidemic, the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in Belle Harbor in 2001, and the Sept. 11 attacks, where one VAC member, 19-year-old Richard Pearlman of the Forest Hills corps, was killed.

“It just doesn’t make any sense,” Wolfe said. “The FDNY has always acknowledged our importance. This is just very surprising.”

Wolfe said the decision may affect Queens the worst as many neighborhoods, especially in the eastern parts of the borough, rely heavily on the VACs during emergencies. He warned that citywide the decision would lead to much longer wait times for victims who are in need of help.

Long said the FDNY would not turn away help from the VACs in times when they are needed, but that their inclusion in the 911 system is moot, since they did not need to use it. The FDNY is supported by at least one VAC. Dave Moretti, head of the Corona Volunteer Ambulance Corps, said the decision will have “zero effect” on their ability to respond to emergencies because the VACs still have an agreement with the city to be contacted in the event of a backlog.

The VACs opposing the decision have strong support from local elected officials. U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens) decried the decision and said the VACs are vital to the city.

“The Fire Department and the Volunteer Ambulance Corps have always had a rocky relationship,” said Weiner. “However, this is a service New Yorkers can’t afford to lose.”

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said he may hold a public hearing on the decision.

“These volunteer ambulance groups provide a vital service, and any city action that might harm them would soon be the subject of a city council hearing,” warned Vallone.

The VACs have been allowed to participate in the 911 system since the FDNY issued an order including them on Jan 5, 2001.

Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext.125.