A private ambulance company that agreed to provide temporary and emergency coverage for Coventry Fire District will no longer assist the district after its CEO said the company received threats against personnel and equipment from the union and its members.
Carol Mansfield, president and CEO of Coastline EMS, made the announcement Sunday night in a press release.
"We employ many firefighters throughout RI and MA and they rely on this income to support their families," Mansfield said. "The Union is forcing these firefighters in MA and RI to resign."
David Gorman, president of Coventry Professional Firefighters Local 3372, told NBC 10 News Sunday night that the alleged threats against Coastline's personnel and equipment didn't come from him or any other Coventry firefighter.
However Gorman said he was aware that several firefighters from Rhode Island and Massachusetts had threatened to quit Coastline if they started helping Coventry.
"Make no mistake about it, firefighters stick together," Gorman said. "They [firefighters] don't want to come into a situation that is a labor dispute."
Frank Palin, the chairman of the Coventry Fire District, said he contacted Coastline about providing ambulance services last week when a judge told the town, state and surrounding districts to come up with a contingency plan.
According to Palin, Coastline agreed, but would only begin assisting Coventry if the firefighters walked off the job and if the judge signed a court order allowing the private ambulance company to come in.