At the end of July, the Department plans to conduct a mutual aid drill between units inQueensand units from various volunteer companies onLong Island. TheUFAsupports being better prepared for future incidents by the re-opening of the six companies closed by the Bloomberg Administration. Volunteer fire departments do not have the training and work experience that members of this Department have and the use of UNPAID units only advances the City's agenda of "doing more with less," thus, opening the door for the argument to close additional fire companies and further endanger the lives of civilians and firefighters. TheUFAExecutive Board asks any and all members of FDNY, who are members of Volunteer Companies, not to attend as members of Volunteer Units. Furthermore, anyUFAmember found to take part in this joint exercise as a member of a Volunteer Company will be in violation of Article XVI, Section 3 of the UFA Constitution and be subject to expulsion from the Uniformed Firefighters Association.
