Medford Officials: No Danger While Holiday Decorations Were Hung

MEDFORD, MA – Some firefighters are frustrated their ladder truck was diverted from its regular service to help hang holiday decorations, but city officials say the community was never in any danger.

Firefighters told Boston 25 there were calls the truck was unable to respond to during the four hours it was hanging decorations, leading to a longer response time while stations from farther away covered for it. In total it could not respond to eight medical calls and two accidents, the network reported.

The state fire union slammed the city's decision to use the truck, telling Boston 25, "in a fire, seconds not minutes matter."

But Mayor Stephanie M. Burke's office hit back against the claims, calling them "misleading and one-sided" in a statement Friday. While the ladder truck was being used to help hang the decorations, all calls were "promptly" answered by other fire crews, including a second ladder truck, her office said.

The Medford Fire Department currently has one ladder truck of its own and one on loan from the Boston Fire Department while its second truck is being repaired, according to Boston 25. Burke's office said the fire department's needs are "continually addressed," citing two new pumpers built for $670,000 each that will be put into service in the coming weeks.

"There were six available fire apparatus and Armstrong Ambulance within our city," the statement continued. "At no time did a call go unanswered!"

Medford Fire Chief Frank Giliberti said in a statement that he does not believe residents were in danger while the truck was out of service.

"In every city or town apparatus such as engines and ladders go out of service at various times for various reasons," Giliberti added. "I consider the members of my department to be on par with the best in the Commonwealth. They do an outstanding job day in and day out and they did on that day."

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