Fort Worth firefighters joined with Chef Tim and Emilie Love at their fire-damaged restaurant Monday to urge city leaders not to cut firefighter positions.
City officials are considering eliminating 24 vacant fire fighting jobs in an effort to shore up a $50 million budget shortfall. Since the initial proposal, city leaders have offered to reinstate 12 of those positions.
But that's not good enough, according to leaders of the Fort Worth Firefighter's Union.
"Seconds do count and minutes are an eternity when responding to a fire or medical emergency," said Jim Tate, president of the Fort Worth Firefighters Association in a written statement. "We join with these former Fire Chiefs and citizens through our city in praying the city council will fully restore the proposed fire department budget cuts."
The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in the Fort Worth Stockyards burned last week. Chef Tim Love and his wife both say the fire department's quick response helped salvage part of the restaurant.
The city's final proposed budget goes in front of the city council September 17.
