MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Midtown resident Michelle Stuart doesn't like the idea of the Memphis Fire Department removing the ladder truck from the station that serves her neighborhood. "I would like to know why they'd consider doing that."
Midtowner Nicole Freeman would like to know that too. She said, "I don't think that's a very good idea."
Memphis City Councilman Kemp Conrad said removing the ladder truck makes sense. He told abc24.com, "We're trying to re-align the resources to the EMS focus as opposed to fire focus."
The focus on fire service in Midtown may become slightly out of focus because according to Conrad, "We do a lot more EMS calls than we do fire calls."
Stuart and Freeman are concerned that removing the ladder will put students at Peabody Elementary school in danger. Freeman noted, "This school is 3 stories high. If they need to rescue some children I would want them to have a ladder truck readily available."