Canandaigua Firefighter Adam Faville says the fire this past weekend that claimed a 98-year-old resident shows how desperate the need is for additional personnel.
"I'm trying to do my job, I'm trying to do a captain's job, I'm trying to do a chief's job — I'm trying to do three people's jobs. It's just me," Faville told WHAM.
He noted that only one other firefighter was working with him.
"I made it out because we needed a hose line right now, I said I'm going to get a hose line, I made sure he was on his way out, (and) I ran out to the truck, because there wasn't anybody else."
During Tuesday's Canandaigua City Council meeting, the last 2025 budget workshop before its adoption on Thursday, the fire chief requested two additional firefighters and an assistant chief in the new budget. The city stated that adding two more firefighters would cost $250,000.
Faville argued that the cost is justified.
"I know budgets. I know that there is a lot of money in the city," said Faville. "And it's the swipe of a mouse, moving it from one pocket to the next. Sorry, Parks and Recreation, I love the flowers that you do every year, but, the city is going to look pretty bad with a burned-down building next to this beautiful park we have."
