In a controversial new plan, Los Angeles Fire Chief Brian Cummings laid out a plan Thursday that would see 22 firefighters removed from firetrucks in favor of ambulances. So far, the decision has not been a popular one.

"He's stealing a critical firefighter off of truck companies to staff, essentially, a non-emergency ambulance. The public deserves to know the risk with the fire chief's unilateral new deployment plan, which by the way, his own chief officers oppose the plan," said Capt. Frank Lima, president of United Firefighters Los Angeles.

Cummings insists that the reallocation of firefighters is necessary given a variety of factors. He cited a rise in medical emergencies, a fall in fires, and a cut in funding as primary motives for the move, stating that "after asking for money and not receiving it, I am moving forward."

Still, those most affected by the decision seem to believe that not only will the decision put citizens in danger by making the LAFD more ineffective at fighting fires, it will put the firefighters at risk as well.

"Are we putting our firefighters at greater risk and placing them in a situation where on their own they may be taking additional risks in order to protect life and property because they're insufficiently staffed?" asked Assistant Chief Andy Fox.

The reasons why that's the case may be apparent to Fox, but are not so easily understandable to those outside the fire department, so he offered this scenario for comparison:

"If you remove one firefighter, it's like asking the Dodgers to play without a center fielder," Fox said. "Yes, they can play the game. Over time, it would prove to be a very bad idea."

Cummings and the fire commission have already agreed to try the idea out on a trial basis rather than fully commit to the new operating procedure. He said they will meet again in two weeks to discuss the plan and scrap it if it's not working.