The firemen assigned to the Givat HaMatos fire station in the southern capital are now in a recreation center in Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, sleeping on mattresses on the floor of a kibbutz library. The firemen explain that cannot continue like this for much longer and if an acceptable solution is not found they will have to abandon their post, leaving 200,000 southern capital residents without area firefighting services.
The High Court of Justice evicted the firemen after a contractor took his case to court. He purchased the land in the area to build residential homes. He offered the city to rent the firehouse for 40,000 NIS monthly, but City Hall said no deal. Realizing he was not getting rent and could not build, he took his case to court, obtaining an eviction order.
Officials told the firemen to remain in their vehicles ‘on call’ during their shifts, but their commander rejected any such arrangement. Now they are in the area kibbutz, but firemen are having a most difficult time on a good day. Despite the kibbutz’s hospitality they lack basic amenities including a place to hang their gear, beds, and showers to use after returning from a fire call. One official stated it is simply a disgrace that firemen are subjected to this kind of abuse in the 21st century.
Officials add that response from the kibbutz is significantly delayed since they must pass schools and kindergartens, demanding they drive slowly. In addition, there is a gate at the exit to the kibbutz that results in yet another delay, precious minutes when the response is critical.
City officials explain they were compelled to evacuate the firemen from the house and they are sparing any effort towards finding a new suitable home for the fire station, hopefully in Givat Shmuel. Simultaneously, there are ongoing efforts to establish a new permanent fire station for the area covered by the Givat HaMatos firefighters.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
“City officials explain they were compelled to evacuate the firemen from the house and they are sparing any effort towards finding a new suitable home for the fire station, hopefully in Givat Shmuel.”
So they are sparing all efforts, meaning they’re doing nothing to solve the situation? Or did you mean *not* sparing any efforts?
And where is Givat Shmuel? That’s at Bar Ilan university, next to Road 4. Did you perhaps mean Givat Shaul?
None of this makes any sense….