A longstanding agreement that allows 60 city fire engine companies to be staffed with five firefighters expires Monday. New York City isn’t planning to renew the agreement, and the firefighters’ union is planning to fight it.

The Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York said the 60 companies staffed with five firefighters are in the city’s busiest areas. President Steve Cassidy said bringing those companies down to four firefighters will create safety concerns for the firefighters and the public. With fewer firefighters, he said, it will also take more time to get water onto the fire.

“Those [60] companies can get water on the fire twice as fast as an engine company with just four firefighters,” he said. “Additionally, those firefighters from the 60 companies provide a manpower pool that allows the department to replace firefighters who are injured after a tour starts.”

Cassidy said the union will challenge the city by seeking an injunction and arbitration. A spokesman from the mayor’s office said the city doesn’t have to negotiate the deal, and most of the FDNY’s engine companies already operate with just four firefighters.

The city has proposed reduced staffing before — most recently, in the mayor’s November budget proposal. But the City Council reached a deal with the mayor to keep staff at current levels.

The FDNY said the latest round of cuts would save the city $30 million a year in overtime costs.

(Source: WNYC)