Sparks FF's get new schedules

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Sparks approves new firefighter work schedules
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SPARKS, Nev. (AP) - Sparks city firefighters will get more days
off in a row under a new scheduling format.
The City Council on Monday agreed to a one-year trial period
beginning in July for the proposal advocated by the city fire
department.
Backers say the move will reduce overtime and sick leave costs
and boost morale.
Under existing schedules, firefighters work 24 hours and are off
for 24 hours. That pattern is repeated three times, when they then
get three days off in a row.
The proposal will allow them to work two, 24-hour shifts and get
the following four days off.
Fire Chief Lee Leighton said firefighters will still work the
same number of hours. He also assured council members there will be
no disruption in service.
"It's absolutely all internal," Leighton said of the changes.
"You won't be able to recognize any difference whatsoever."
Leighton said the idea came as part of City Manager Shaun
Carey's Centennial Initiative to redesign city government. He said
three-fourths of firefighters polled preferred the new schedule.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Sparks to staff new fire station with existing personnel
SPARKS, Nev. (AP) - The Sparks City Council has decided to
juggle existing firefighters to staff a new fire station in Spanish
Springs.
The council will decide in the next few months where to cut city
services to come up with the estimated $600,000 that will be needed
in overtime pay to staff the new station for one year, council
members decided after a day-long retreat Wednesday.
Under a plan developed by Fire Chief Lee Leighton, the city will
use existing staff and pay overtime to fill needed positions and
fire engine crews will be reduced to three instead of four.
City officials said more firefighters will be hired and engine
staffing levels reinstated as revenues allow.
Sparks voters in June rejected a property tax increase to hire
more firefighters to staff the new fire station in Wingfield
Springs, expected to open in October 2004.
Running fire trucks with only three staff has been criticized by
the firefighters union in the past. Federal safety standards
recommend four firefighters per engine.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)