Winston-Salem Fire Department Cuts Staffing Levels Due to Overtime

The Winston-Salem Fire Department has reduced its daily minimum staffing from 89 to 79 firefighters in response to a projected budget shortfall. According to department officials, the fire department is projected to end this fiscal year $600,000-700,000 over budget. This has led department officials to reduce the minimum staffing on all the city’s fire apparatus from four to three firefighters. Additionally, the department has cancelled most off-duty training in an effort to further curb overtime costs. The union representing the firefighters, the Winston-Salem Professional Fire Fighters have voiced concerns over the staffing cuts and point out that the department’s call volume has nearly tripled in the past five years.

Here is more on the story from WFMY News 2 and WGHP Fox News 8.