Firefighters claim a city policy closing fire stations for medical exams put their safety at risk. © Shawn Hardy / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – A group of fire fighters are suing New York City over injuries they suffered while responding to a 2023 housefire. The group from Staten Island says they were short staffed since the closest team to the burning home was off duty getting their annual physicals.
The four first responders are seeking 80 million dollars for the injuries in the fire that they claim became a raging, uncontrollable blaze because the most local fire station was closed for those medical exams.
The city policy was originally meant to protect the health of firefighters, now it is being taken to the state Supreme Court.
The injured firefighters are hoping the case pushes the FDNY to change that policy closing firehouses without a back up team to replace those being evaluated.
