Iowa Town Cuts Back on Firefighters' Hours

OELWEIN, Iowa (AP) -- Budget cuts have prompted the fire department to reduce the hours it will be staffed, officials said.

The cuts mean the fire station will have one of two paid firefighters on duty from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., said volunteer Fire Chief Wally Rundle.

Previously, a paid firefighter was on duty around the clock to immediately drive a truck to a fire, Rundle said.

Now someone will first have to go to the fire station to get the truck, he said.

``It's just a numbers crunch,'' Rundle said. ``In my heart, I'm hoping it's a temporary thing.''

The city's 28 volunteer firefighters keep equipment with them and will still respond directly to the scene, he said.