From the Contra Costa Times: Los Angeles firefighters on Friday said lives were in danger because of city cuts — a claim that sparked accusations from a city councilman that the firefighters were exaggerating to generate public fear.

Because of budget cuts, the LAFD last year went on a rolling staff reduction, with 87 firefighters a day taken off duty. Pat McOsker, president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, urged the city council to restore the department to full staffing.

UFLAC has presented its own proposal to the city that it says would restore the fire companies to full staffing, but city officials have been concerned that it would result in additional costs to the city.