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Suncoast Pinellas News

Tarpon Fire To Remain Undermanned

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: September 3, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - The Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue will remain understaffed, even after the department institutes a mandatory overtime policy that was instituted Tuesday in an effort to add an additional firefighter to some shifts.

City commissioners asked Fire Chief Stephen Moreno for a report on how the city plans to deal with a shortage of firefighters.

The shortage was reportedly caused by years of the city not hiring additional firefighters to meet needs. Tarpon Springs firefighters must now wait until backup units arrive from outside the city to begin interior rescue efforts.

The city needs about 15 additional firefighters for it to be on a staffing par with neighboring Palm Harbor or East Lake.

Moreno told commissioners he would add one firefighter to shifts, during peak hours using mandatory overtime.

Firefighters will also be called in on their off days to test hydrants, conduct pre-incident training and make building inspections.

However, Moreno told The Suncoast News prior to the meeting that this action will still not allow firefighters to begin interior rescue efforts before the arrival of backup units from Palm Harbor, East Lake or even sometimes as far away as Dunedin. Moreno did not mention this point to commissioners.

Read more about staffing concerns at the Tarpon Springs Fire Department in Saturday's Pinellas edition of The Suncoast News.

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