Firefighters, Residents Picket MWC Fire Department Cuts

Passion flowed Tuesday night in Midwest City council chambers. The issue is the city's cuts to the fire department.

Dozens of firefighters and their families picketed outside City Hall in 92 degree heat an hour before Tuesday night's meeting. 

Fire Chief Bert Norton wants to close one of six fire stations, and shutter a $1 million fire truck to make up for what City Manager Guy Henson says is lagging sales tax revenue. 

Resident Danny Breeden made a passionate plea to stop the cuts Tuesday night.

"If you shut that down, all you are doing is holding us back. Look on TV every night. All we get is bad stuff," Breeden said.

Norton said the cuts will not affect fire department's response times or the city's insurance rating. The firefighters association said that is not true.