Officials say the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is so understaffed that overtime is mandatory. And if firefighters continually refuse, they can be warned, suspended and even terminated.
Chief Javier Mainar tells KNSD-TV that volunteers are sought first, but if that fails, there is a rotation list and if people refuse, they are subject to discipline that escalates.
Firefighters are used to extra shifts because paying overtime is sometimes cheaper than new hires.
San Diego has 800 firefighters, down 125 from 2009. In those three years, no recruits have been hired and many veterans have retired.
Two new, 16-week academy classes are scheduled and 50 or 60 people should graduate. San Diego Firefighters Local 145 president Frank De Clercq says that should help but it won't fix the problem.
COMMENT: OK, which would be cheaper for the city budget in the long run, hire more people or pay overtime?
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