Colorado Fire Department Adjusts Start Times to Improve Sleep and Health for Firefighters

West Metro Fire Rescue in Lakewood, Colorado is changing its daily work schedule to allow firefighters more opportunity for rest between calls. This change follows a sleep study conducted by the department which found that early morning start times were limiting the amount of sleep crews were getting while both on and off duty.

West Metro Fire Rescue operates on a 48/96 schedule. Beginning in January, the department will shift the start of firefighters’ workdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.. By adjusting the start time later in the morning, West Metro aims to improve sleep quality for firefighters at the station, giving crews a chance to rest more fully after overnight activities and calls.

The schedule change represents one of the operational adjustments West Metro is implementing in response to data from its internal studies related to firefighter health and safety.

Here is more on the story from Next News 9.