Deputy Fire Chief Puts Heat on Common Council Members

   In an effort to improve the relationship between the CFD fire department and city council, Deputy Fire Chief Freedman invited council members Thursday to a special training session. The activities were designed to give council members a better feel for what firefighters do. An EMT demonstration was given a few years ago at a council meeting, but Freedman explained Thursday’s firefighting demonstration with common council members was the first of its kind for Cortland.

   The eight-hour session started at 3 P. M. and was attended by alderpersons Byrd, Sillyman and Michaels. Freedman gave them an abridged version of fire training that included dressing them in gear and equipment, conducting a controlled burn in a vacant lot, and later sleeping at the firehouse and waking on call.

   Sillyman said the training included carrying a fire extinguisher up and down stairs, running out hose with firefighters' assistance and connecting to a hydrant, climbing over obstacles and dragging a 180 pound dummy. She said fire extinguishers were used to douse the controlled burn.

   “I found the training very difficult, and I was near exhaustion dragging the dummy,” Sillyman said.”I pretended the dummy was the mayor and I was trying to rescue him from his mean-spirited detractors and that gave me extra strength to perform the task.”
   Byrd said she enjoyed the training session. "They didn't make it easy for us. We were up close to the fire. We put it out. Pulling the dummy was difficult. However we toughed it out."

   Michaels said he learned the hard way how difficult the job is, and how quickly a fire can spread. “I have a new appreciation for the work of firefighters,” he said. “I was slower than Sillyman, I confess. I stumbled and fell twice. I’m getting old.”

   The sleep session was less exhausting, and all three council members showed that they could sleep at the firehouse as easily as they could sleep at council meetings.

   “It was a success,” Freedman announced. “I hope the experience will make city council members agreeable to our concerns on mutual aid, and Local 2737 demands for a new contract, including the delicious, admittedly contentious Article 9.1.1, strawberry shortcake with whipped cream for every firefighter working the night shift.”

Disclaimer: Correctly spelling the names of public employees and telling the truth are not part of this post. For affirmation of this disclaimer, consult Aldermen Carlos Ferrier and Ken Die. Do not consult Alderman John Benet, unless you can withstand a long and windy speech about newspapers. CC editor.