Cleveland to Cut 51 Firefighters, Close Companies

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.