'People Will Die': FDNY Fire Chiefs Argue Demotions Endanger Public

NEW YORK CITY — A slew of demotions atop the FDNY will leave the department without seasoned chiefs who have actual command experience against large fires, argued an incendiary new lawsuit.

Four demoted chiefs filed a lawsuit Monday in Brooklyn court to reverse or stop what they called "retaliatory" personnel moves by FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.

The FDNY will face an "unimaginable level of unpreparedness" if demotions move forward between March 4 and March 6, they argued.

“Without the Court stopping these demotions, there is an abundantly clear risk to public safety,” the lawsuit states. “People will die, people will be injured, and property will be destroyed.”

A city law department spokesperson told Patch that Kavanagh's personnel decisions were "lawful and within her authority."

"We will respond accordingly in the litigation," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The lawsuit stems from a fiery behind-the-scenes battle between Kavanagh and top FDNY chiefs.

Kavanagh in February demoted chiefs she considered "bad apples," the New York Daily News first reported. This prompted a spate of resignations by other staff chiefs in protest.

The demotions will leave the FDNY with no chiefs with experience as incident commanders on five-alarm fires, and just a handful with four-alarm command experience, the lawsuit argued.

The lawsuit seeks the reinstatement of 11 staff chiefs as the case moves forward.

"These are some of the same firefighters who put their own lives at risk on September 11 and on countless other occasions to uphold their oath to protect New Yorkers from lethal fires," said Jim Walden, an attorney with Walden Macht & Haran, the firm that filed the suit.

"To remove these experienced officials from their essential safety functions puts lives at risk and is simply a gross misjudgment and dereliction of duty by the Commissioner."