AM New York

Since it was founded in 1803, the Fire Patrol's mission has been guarding against the loss of property. Now, after more than 200 years, the insurance companies that fund the patrol have decided to pull the plug.

"It costs $8.8 million to run us and we save more than $100 million a year in property," said Jim Nunez, president of the Fire Patrol union. "We really don't know why they are closing us down. The best we can figure is that this is a land grab."

That land includes three Fire Patrol stations, including one on West 3rd Street, in the heart of the West Village. Dozens of fire patrolmen and their families gathered there Sunday to draw attention to the closings. Although the mood was festive, 150 fire patrolmen and support personnel the entire force - the entire force - are slated to be out of work by mid-October.

"We've always considered them to be brother firefighters" said Danny Murphy of the FDNY's union. "It hurts to see them go and we are going to have to figure out some way to fill the void."

The Fire Patrol is not affiliated with the FDNY, but its patrolmen take orders from city firefighters at fires.

Some speculated that the closings were prompted by potentially massive health insurance claims that could be filed in coming years from fire patrolmen who were at Ground Zero on 9/11. Representatives with the insurance companies could not be reached Sunday, but they have said in the past that the system is no longer cost effective.

"The bottom line is that there are just going to be fewer people responding to fires in the city," said Captain Kevin Keegan, a 33-year veteran of the New York Fire Patrol.

Besides the one on West 3rd street, stations on West 30th Street, near Madison Square Garden, and on Dean Street in Brooklyn are slated to be closed.