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ARLINGTON, Va. - Proposed budget cuts could impact firefighters' response time in Arlington. The county board is currently debating how to cut $40 million from the 2011 fiscal budget.

The local union fears plans to cut back in funding and staff would compromise the safety of both firefighters and residents.

National safety standards require a minimum of four firefighters on each truck, allowing crews to operate in pairs -- with two upstairs and two downstairs. But to save money, the county board could reduce truck staffing from four- to three-man crews.

A rapid fire response can mean the difference between property damage and death. But with Arlington County facing a budget shortfall, precious minutes may be added to save money.

"Our fire department, we have nothing left," said Mike Staples, president of the Arlington Professional Firefighters and Paramedic Association. "They're going to have to shut a company down; they're going to have to figure out which community to tell, 'We're going to have to shut your truck down.'"

It's a stark prospect but Staples says it's safer to cut a single company than to cut staff on multiple trucks. "There is no room for compromise on four-person staffing," he said.

Two of Arlington County's 14 fire stations currently work with the smaller three-man crew. That means homes can only be searched one floor at a time.

Staples says those circumstances can be deadly. He worked 25 years as a firefighter and says when serving on a three-man crew, they were only able to search the top floor when the victim was downstairs.

"We can't say if we would have saved that life or not. But we can absolutely say we would have had that person out of that toxic atmosphere many, many minutes sooner had we had the ability to break into two crews," he said.

"When lives are depending on their ability to respond quickly, that's very important," added Richard Cornelius, an Arlington resident.

Staples says reports show three-man crews consistently factor into firefighter deaths. "We're not helping you if we become victims ourselves," he said.

The original budget proposal from the Arlington Fire Department Chief did not recommend staff reductions. But Staples says the proposal changed in the county manager's office. In February, the county board will make a final decision.

"They should have the funding that they need to help the Arlington residents out," said Crystal Shaw, an Arlington resident.

"I would unfortunately have to cut from other things, not the fire and rescue," added Brett Young, an Arlington resident.

NewsChannel 8 reporter Tiffany Wilson contacted the Arlington County Fire Chief. He declined an on-camera interview but told Wilson over the phone that retaining four-person teams remains a priority and no one's voted on the budget yet.

Meanwhile, local firefighters say they need to be proactive because staff cuts shouldn't even be under consideration.

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