News Center 7's Kate Bartley spoke with the union representing Riverside firefighters, who said the city has a problem now that can't wait until next year.
“It could potentially be dangerous,” said International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2938 President Josh Gwin. “With one ‘threat to life’ call, that completely depletes our resources.”
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In 2016, he said Riverside’s fire department had nine firefighters working every day. They went on 4,400 calls, with 16 full-time and 40 part-time staff members.
In 2018, the department was down to seven firefighters a day, but up to 4,800 calls. Full-time staff stayed the same, but part-time staff members dropped to 18.
Gwin said it's nearly impossible for Riverside, and many other departments, to recruit and keep part-timers.
“We need to transition into an all-career department and add additional staffing. That way we can provide the level of service to the citizens that they deserve,” Gwin said.
Riverside Fire Chief Dan Stitzel addressed city leaders about staffing problems at last week’s city council meeting, including one day in particular “within an hour and a half of that structure fire, we had nine other calls in the city.”
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The city had to rely on several other departments to pick up calls.
“That’s increased response time. And that increased response time could mean life or death,” Gwin said.
City Manager Mark Carpenter said the city will apply for a grant, and that after the federal grant ends they plan to keep those positions.
The city is working on its grant application right now.
At this point, they don’t have funds in place to increase the number of full-time positions.