Federal money could mean more city firefighters

The Cincinnati Fire Department will again receive federal money to pay for the salaries and benefits of additional firefighters, almost certainly raising staffing levels above a cap set years ago by City Council.

Fire Chief Richard Braun plans to ask council to increase what’s known as the department’s “authorized strength” from 841 firefighters to 879, fire department spokeswoman Jennifer Spieser said.

That’s the number needed to effectively end brownouts – daily unmanned fire equipment, based on reviews by CFD staff, fire union and independent reports on fire operations completed in the last decade, Spieser said.

More staff is needed because new supervisory roles focused on safety and advanced emergency medical services added by Braun (and recommended in the department reviews), have reduced the number of firefighters making daily runs.

Braun is out of town this week and unavailable to provide further comment, Spieser said.

Cincinnati has relied on grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Program for the last several years.

This latest SAFER grant is for nearly $8.1 million to pay the salaries and benefits for 50 firefighters for two years, Spieser said.

Any firefighters who are military veterans will be covered for three years.

Afterward, Cincinnati will have to pay their salaries and benefits.

Councilman Christopher Smitherman, chairman of council’s law and public safety committee, said he is committed to ending brownouts and will support the chief.

The new employees are expected to begin training in May and graduate by the end of 2014, Spieser said.

The class would most likely bring staffing levels above the authorized strength of 841 (set by council in October 2005), unless 23 firefighters retire before then.

The fire department currently employs 814 firefighters; 44 are eligible to retire within the next two years, Spieser said.

Some cities, including Middletown and Hamilton, have had to lay off firefighters after SAFER grants expired, but Braun has said he’s confident city finances will have improved by then.

Vice Mayor David Mann said he’ll have to take a closer look at why more firefighters are needed before giving his approval.

“I’m going to listen to (Chief Braun) and be interested in knowing what the basis of the recommendation is,” Mann said.

“Whatever we decide to do is what can we afford when the 50 come on the payroll. My personal inclination is let’s take the money, and then, who knows what our situations will be in two years.” ■