Cleveland to Cut 51 Firefighters, Close Companies

May 16, 2011
Five fire companies also will be forced to close.
Cleveland's mayor announced Monday that the city plans to lay off 51 firefighters next month, according to WKYC-TV.

Five fire companies also will be forced to close and four fire battalion chiefs, three captains and 10 lieutenants will be demoted.

The cuts are part of a larger plan to lay off 321 workers, including 123 police officers.

The layoffs will take effect on June 1 and employees are being notified today.

Mayor Frank Jackson blamed the cuts on what he calls unfair state funding reductions.

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