Brainerd is considering restructuring its fire department, saving almost $266,000 a year by eliminating full-time firefighter positions stationed in its fire hall. The department currently has five full-time equipment operators who work over three shifts to staff the fire hall 24 hours per day.
There is also 38 paid on-call firefighters.
Under the restructuring, those five full-time equipment operator positions would be eliminated. There would then only be a paid on-call department, headed by a fire chief and deputy chief. The department would increase its paid on-call payroll budget to accommodate the additional firefighters the department would hire. The city simply says it can’t afford the current structure.
However, the firefighters are vehemently fighting the plan saying it’s a matter of safety and will lengthen response times to fires.