Part 3/5:
During the meeting, many voiced their disappointments regarding the city’s preparedness for the current fire season. Several residents directly pointed to the defunding of the fire department as a critical misstep. They lamented that this was not an isolated incident, but part of a recurring issue that has consistently plagued the state for decades. “We always seem to be ten steps behind,” lamented one attendee, echoing a common feeling among those affected.