Rory Reid’s threat … from county firefighters

That crunch you just heard was the sound of a heavy rescue fire engine backing over the gubernatorial candidacy of Rory Reid.

Clark County Firefighters, traditionally the loyal friends of any and all Nevada Democrats named Reid, have produced a quick and devastating attack ad calling into question Clark County Commissioner Rory’s judgment for the decision to mothball the county fire department’s highly trained heavy rescue fire engine unit as a cost-cutting measure.

Firefighters and county officials continue protracted negotiations, and the word is both sides are at an impasse. One number being thrown around is that the firefighters have agreed to nearly $10 million in concessions, but county officials are saying that figure doesn’t go nearly far enough.

It’s not difficult to speculate that politics are being played on both sides of the debate. These days, with the economy in the dumper and the once-fat county looking for areas to trim the budget, criticizing the well-paid firefighters and their generous contract – the one that was approved in broad daylight by county officials and the commission – has become a popular pastime.

On paper, heavy rescue units don’t look cost-effective. That is, until you need one. With the county’s unit going out of service, that leaves only the City Fire Department’s Station 44 as the valley’s unit devoted to large vehicle extrication, swift-water rescue, high-rise assistance, as well as underground and enclosed space rescue.

Now Reid figures to have to dig his way out of a political cave in following the creation of roryreidsthreat.com.

The accompanying commercial blisters the commissioner at a time he trails Republican Brian Sandoval in the latest’s governor’s poll by double digits.

“It’s a question of judgment. Rory Reid says he’s trying to contain costs, yet he’s approved promotions and pay raises for county bureaucrats this year. Simultaneously Reid shut down one of the most important rescue teams in Southern Nevada. It’s heavy rescue that uses jaws of life when horrific car crashes trap victims. The team pulls victims from raging waters during flood season. They’re the life line for high-rise buildings on the Las Vegas Strip. The savings: a little over one cent a day per resident.”

It sounds like “Rory Reid’s threat” is a double-entendre. For Reid, the real threat is coming from county firefighters at the worst possible time.