Koslowitz 'Appalled' By Firehouse Closure Plan

City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, D-Forest Hills, has come out strongly against

Koslowitz, who has spent a lifetime in government at the borough- and citywide level, said the closure of 20 firehouses would represent a return to mistakes that the city has made in the past.

“I am appalled that the Administration has chosen to again put firehouses on the chopping block," Koslowitz said. "The supposed 55 million dollars in savings will not make up for the danger and change in response time when it comes to people’s lives."

Bloomberg's cost-cutting proposal would involve closing four firehouses in Queens and eight in Brooklyn. One of the firehouses on the chopping block, Engine 294 on Jamaica Avenue, serves much of central Queens including parts of Forest Hills and Forest Park.

Koslowitz said that knowing the Jamaica Avenue firehouse was on the closure list for the second time was cause for a great deal of concern in Queens.

“This is like deja vu; in the early 1990’s the city shut firehouses and nearly two weeks later a fire occurred in which two family members died," Koslowitz added. "The responding firehouse, Engine 294 on 101-20 Jamaica Ave, was closed due to budget cuts and is again on this list this time. I will strongly fight these cuts as we cannot jeopardize the safety of people in order to balance the budget.”