NEW YORK.- A greater Elmira regional fire department doesn`t necessarily mean fewer city firefighters. In fact it could mean more of them. That`s according to Elmira City Manager John Burin.

A task force report to eliminate the city`s budget deficit called for consideration of a regional fire and ambulance service. Burin says a conceptual plan being worked on now would include Elmira Heights and the Town of Southport. City firefighters would respond to fires in those municipalities.

During a taping of WETM-TV`s Sunday news program, "Twin Tiers Weekly" Burin was asked if the regional plan would result in the need for fewer city firefighters. Burin said, "Depending on how much of a regionalization it is, it will preserve jobs and could possibly enhance the number of professional firefighters."

Burin says the Insurance Service Office would first have to determine the plan would not jeopardize public safety before it went to elected officials for consideration.

The president of the Elmira Firefighters Association , Bill Wheeler, said he hasn`t heard of the plan possibly adding firefighters... just spreading city firefighters thinner.

"Twin Tiers Weekly" airs Sunday mornings at ten on WETM-TV and at noon on WETM-2 which is on cable channel 11 in Elmira and Corning.