Norfolk is moving forward with plans to hire a fourth shift of firefighters to reduce burnout — and a neighboring city is taking notice.
The city of Norfolk committed $1.8 million to create 34 new firefighter positions, aiming to reduce weekly working hours from 52 or more down to 42. The effort comes after concerns about the physical and mental toll of long shifts on firefighters.
“The number one cause of firefighter death is heart disease. So that comes directly from being burnt out,” Norfolk firefighter union president Mark Old told News 3 earlier this month…