South Carolina Department Reduces Staffing

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The Columbia Fire Department is cutting back on costs to avoid layoffs, but Columbia residents say they're not thrilled about how the department is doing it.

"I'm highly upset about it," says Arielle Moye.

"I think any time you have less service, it presents potential problems if you have multiple fires. So I don't feel great about it," says Dervin Gilbert.

Despite concern, Deputy Chief Aubrey Jenkins feels while a smaller staff will present challenges, he feels the negative impact to the public will be minor if felt at all.

"The last thing we want people to think out there is we're reducing service, you're still going to get the same quality service the fire department has always provided, what we're doing, we're just reducing our staffing factor," says Jenkins.

Deputy Chief Jenkins says they're not filling 19 empty positions in the department, and moving other firefighters around to cover the vacancies.

The number of firefighters on each shift will be reduced from 66 to 60. And instead of eight firefighters responding to an incident in two trucks, five firefighters will respond in one truck.

Jenkins says that will mean more responsibility for each firefighter.

"Any time you're running one truck on any given call, it does take just a little longer to get set up," says Jenkins.

Jenkins says crews from other areas will arrive at the scene to assist and they should be there within seven minutes.

"It's going to be some challenges, but I just believe we can overcome those challenges," he says.

The chief is confident, but the idea is still unsettling for those who live in these communities.

"I'm going to be very careful in my own house, that's for sure, turning off stoves and such," says Gilbert.

Jenkins says the Devine and Atlas Street stations have had two trucks for the last decade, and now they will each have one truck like all the other stations.

Jenkins also says even with the changes, response time will not be affected. He says firefighters should be able to respond to any scene within three minutes.

Republished with permission of WIS-TV.