In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the pressing issue of mandatory overtime for firefighters, highlighting the significant stress it places on personnel. Approximately a month ago, the department reported around 134 mandatory overtime shifts, totaling over 1,600 hours. This situation has raised concerns about the well-being of firefighters, who are missing vacation time and family commitments due to the demanding schedule.

The current staffing model, which operates on a one-day-on, one-day-off basis, has become unsustainable as call volumes have surged from 8,000 runs a year a decade ago to 16,000 today. To address these challenges, a proposal was introduced to increase the number of firefighters stationed at various locations. For instance, staffing at Station 6 and Station 10 would increase from three to four firefighters, while Station 11 in Woodland would see an increase from two to three.

This adjustment aims to reduce the reliance on mandatory overtime while maintaining adequate staffing levels for emergency responses, particularly for structure fires, which require around 20 firefighters. The proposed changes are seen as a necessary step to alleviate the physical and mental strain on firefighters, although officials acknowledged that it may not be a complete solution.

The discussions underscored a collective agreement among officials that action is needed to improve working conditions for firefighters, with the hope that these changes will foster a healthier work-life balance and enhance overall operational efficiency.