May Add Still More To Increase Force

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, ANNOUNCED THAT they plan on re-hiring nearly all of the 30 firefighters that were laid off last September 30th in a budgetary shortfall.  Twenty-nine of them will be sworn in on Tuesday morning, but the other FF has already taken a job elsewhere.  Additionally, they expect to hire an additional 21 new firefighters soon.

This was made possible by a $9.7 million Federal SAFER grant that was released in March.  The Press of Atlantic City reports:

Even before losing the 30 firefighters last year, the city was regularly closing at least one or more fire companies per shift. Since the loss – which reduced the ranks by seven or eight firefighters per shift – as many as six companies have been closed in a 24-hour period, Brooks has said. Business Administrator Michael Scott said earlier this month that the mayor would like to see the department at 245 firefighters. It is currently at 210.

The grant also allows for the hiring of 21 new firefighters, which will likely rise to 22 due to the firefighter who is not returning. The city is still awaiting state approval of that list of hires. Ten firefighters are set to be promoted to captain under the grant, but when that will happen has not been determined.

Atlantic City Fire Department WEBSITE.

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