Local firefighters are speaking out against the Winston-Salem Fire Department’s (WSFD) decision to cut overtime and reduce staffing numbers.
The WSFD announced last week that they were projected by as much as $600,000 over budget for the fiscal year. To address the projected average, the department announced that they would be reducing their daily minimum staffing numbers from 89 to 79, canceling overtime and most out-of-town and off-duty training.
While every fire station will remain staffed, many units will operate with three personnel instead of four. According to a press release, Chief Trey Mayo said daily training will continue and even with staffing reductions, the WSPD will still respond to building fires with more personnel than most of its peer departments. The department will also still exceed the number recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency…