Firefighters Union Assails Westminster : Spending: Labor leaders say cutbacks have endangered public safety. Council denies charges that its actions contributed to a man’s death.

Officials of the beleaguered Westminster firefighters union charged Friday that the City Council’s decision to cut the Fire Department budget has compromised public safety and contributed to the fire-related death of a mentally disabled man two days ago.

“This tragedy is the direct result of the mayor and council placing politics above the safety of the people,” Capt. Mike Garrison, director of the Westminster Firefighters Assn., said during a news conference at the city’s Fire Station No. 2.

Mark D. York, 33, died early Thursday evening as flames engulfed the rear of Christian Residential Care, a board-and-care home on Candlewood Street. His body was found in a bathroom on the bottom floor of the two-story structure.

Members of the City Council, including one who is the target of a recall drive backed by city firefighters, said it has yet to be determined what caused York’s death or whether there was even a chance of rescuing him.

“I find it somewhat disturbing that the union can reach this type of conclusion when the investigation by the state fire marshal has not been concluded,” said council member Craig Schweisinger, who voted to cut the fire service budget and faces a recall drive. “It’s apparent this union official would stoop to anything to maintain their money and power grab in the city,” he added.

Officials of the Orange County coroner’s office also said it would be premature to say how York died before a thorough investigation is conducted.

Garrison said that because of staff cuts at the station nearest Christian Residential Care there were not enough firefighters to fully search the building immediately after they arrived.

“It is the professional opinion of not only the Westminster Fire Fighters Executive Board, but the on-scene battalion chief that had Station 2’s (second engine) . . . been in service, this fatality would not have happened,” Garrison said.

One of two fire engines previously stationed at the closest firehouse had been transferred elsewhere when city officials-- concerned about overtime costs--ordered spending cutbacks.

Friday’s assertions about York’s death were some of the strongest statements firefighters have made in a bitter dispute with the City Council over staffing and overtime costs.

Several months ago, the City Council’s concerns triggered an investigation by the Orange County district attorney’s office into whether firefighters and their superiors improperly collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay.

Initial suspicions of theft were raised when city auditors disclosed that about $1 million in overtime was paid in fiscal 1991-1992, when the budget for overtime was about $710,000.

In an attempt to reduce overtime and overhaul the department, the City Council last year passed a reorganization plan that took one ladder truck out of service, eliminated six firefighters positions and realigned staffing to reduce overtime.

Representatives of the firefighters association say they are backing the recall movement because the council’s efforts to streamline the fire service have seriously jeopardized public safety. They blame the overtime situation on the council’s failure to hire enough firefighters to fill all shifts.