Pittsburgh Paramedics Oppose Firefighters` Dive Training Plan

City of Pittsburgh firefighters may soon go where blazes are most unlikely: under water.

In a Feb. 10 memo, Fire Chief Michael Huss asked for volunteers interested in scuba diving and underwater hazards training. The response, he said, has been "kind of overwhelming."

Not happy are city paramedics, whose ranks already include 19 divers.

"That [role] is in our contract and has been in our contract since 1978," said Jeff Vesci, president of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics.

At least 160 firefighters want to take the courses, said International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1 President Joe King. That's nearly one-third of the force -- far more than the course could handle.

Chief Huss said he decided to gauge interest in a diving program for firefighters after seeing a training ad from Splash Water Sports in Banksville and wasn't aware of any possible turf fight with the paramedics. He hasn't decided whether to conduct the training, nor how many to send or when.

A proposed schedule from Splash includes nine pool sessions starting March 1 and ending April 26. Six would be on weekdays and three on Saturdays.

It would also include diving trips to Strawberry Quarry near Slippery Rock and Mount Storm Lake in West Virginia.

The separate underwater hazards classes would run from May 22 through May 26.

The latter course is "designed to search for underwater devices," like bombs, he said.

He said the training would be paid for from a 13-county regional anti-terrorism program, and costs to the city would be minimal. He said it is also open to other public safety agencies in the region, but he did not know if any were taking it.

Emergency Medical Services Bureau Chief Robert McCaughan said searching for hazards is a capability his paramedics don't have. Their training is focused on lifesaving.

But Mr. Vesci said that if the underwater hazard training represents a new public safety function for the city, it should go to either the police or paramedics.

He said he has filed unfair labor practices complaints against Fire Bureau training that infringes on the paramedics' role, and may broaden the complaint to include the scuba training.

Most dives involve a potential drowning, he said, and may involve resuscitation.

"We need medical personnel to make these decisions," he said.

The 162 paramedics are working under a contract extension that expires June 30, and are sensitive about their role after years of talk about merging them into the Fire Bureau or hospitals.

Worsening anxieties, the training initiative comes two months after Chief McCaughan raised the possibility of cutting his bureau's river rescue operations. Yesterday he said that operation is "status quo" for now. That means the River Rescue Center near PNC Park will be staffed by one police officer and two paramedics from May through September.

Mayor Bob O'Connor said the training was related to the city's need for improved security in advance of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July.

"The diversity of well-trained people in all categories certainly benefits all of us," he said. "The more trained all of us are, especially to respond to emergencies, is better for all of us."

Splash Water Sports owners did not return calls for comment.

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