Published: July 14, 2008 02:09 pm      

Freeing firefighters | City is right in suspending lockout practice

City officials cited rising gas prices in their suspension of the practice of having Johnstown firefighters assist motorists who had locked themselves out of their cars.

We wholeheartedly agree with the decision.

And even if gas prices hadn’t shot through the roof, we think there’s a good reason to stop providing the service: Common sense.

Unless there is a health risk – and the city will continue to open locked cars in those situations – no motorist should expect high-paid and busy city firefighters to take the time to get them out of what is essentially an embarrassing circumstance caused by carelessness.

City Manager Curt Davis introduced the measure at last Wednesday’s City Council meeting. At this time, the move is temporary.

“I feel it’s an expensive service,” Davis said.

We agree. It’s too expensive to even reinstate later.

We also support the city’s move to begin assessing fines when called out by malfunctioning fire alarms. The fire department exists to serve and protect, but only when a real situation arises.

These are both good fiscal decisions – even if Johnstown were not struggling financially.

As the city has decided, individuals who lock their keys in their cars can call professional locksmiths or auto dealerships to get them out of the jam, and pay the going rate.

Some council members said the city should charge a fee rather than suspend the service. That might be an acceptable step.

But those fees would need to be substantial to cover the cost of having a full-time city firefighter (or more than one) transported in a gas-guzzling city fire truck to perform the service, and do so at the risk of being at the wrong end of town if a real emergency were to occur.

We say the city has taken a step in the right direction.

Let’s not make this service suspension temporary.

Lock it up and throw away the key.