ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) -
Firefighters in Minneapolis say the cuts that kept coming year after year are resulting in more injuries and weaker service overall.
Crews put those concerns on the table on Thursday at the Capitol, and they want something done about it, citing the Walker Community United Methodist Church on May 27 as an example.
Videos of the soaring flames show just how intense the fire was -- but that's nothing compared to how intense it was inside. Joe Matteson, Christie Nixon, and Jerry White are still nursing the injuries they got while fighting those flames -- and they're still asking why.
"The thought crossed my mind -- and Jerry's and Christie's -- that, 'I might die,'" Matteson said. "You get angry sometimes."
During a hearing at the Capitol called by Democratic Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, each firefighter shared their frustrations, which they say are caused by consistent, yearly cuts to the department.
"As far as I'm concerned, if we had more people there, it would have been a totally different outcome," White said.
The increase in injuries over the past decade has led to millions more being spent on workman's compensation and overtime costs to cover shifts, according to city officials.
"It goes way beyond numbers and dollars," White said. "We're talking about the lives of people."
Democrats, like Torres Ray, argue that the state needs to stop the pain by providing more in the form of local government aid, or LGA.
"This is about essential services to our constituents," she said.
Yet, many Republicans, like Sen. Dave Thompson, of Lakeville, say money isn't the issue.
"I believe it's an issue of prioritizing," he told FOX 9 News.
Thompson said he thinks bigger cities -- like Minneapolis and St. Paul -- often use LGA on too many projects -- like bike trails -- that are wants, and not needs.
"I'm not suggesting local folks shouldn't be able to have those things, but certainly, fire and police and essential services should be taken care of first," he said.
The firefighters don't care about the politics of it all, however, they just want results. In fact, they say they need 67 more firefighters on staff to be at a level that can provide comprehensive service in the city.
"Wherever the money needs to come from, we need to get it," White said.
In the last budget, LGA was neither cut nor increased, and it will likely be a major issue leading up to the November election and again next session.
