A growing call volume and a lack of EMS and fire resources has the Cincinnati firefighter's union pleading for help, including funding.
IAFF Local 48 President Matt Alter said the city is having to rely on mutual aid each day as Cincinnati’s resources is depleted, noting that the department's roster has not grown since 2006.
“The number of times that we need to call a county unit in from a neighboring township or city or village is increasing,” Alter told Fox19.com.
Cincinnati currently runs 12 ambulances in the city, and Alter said the slowest ambulance is busier than some surrounding jurisdictions' busiest ambulance.
“We have not added any additional ambulances or transport units to the Cincinnati Fire Department in 15 years,” he told the television station.
”The firefighters work a minimum of a 48-hour work week. For the past almost four years, firefighters are averaging anywhere from a 56 to almost a 72-hour work week because of just the amount of overtime that they’re working because of being short-staffed,” said Alter.
The department is 140 members short of their authorized staffing number. He said nine firefighters are needed for each ambulance that is placed in to service.
The city authorized hiring but the staffing shortage will be significant because retirements and people leaving the firefighting career.
