The Chico Fire Department is sharing why having more firefighters in the city is so important.
“We can’t get these guys on soon enough," said Deputy Chief, Chris Zinko. "We have had crazy wildfire seasons for the last five or six years. We are forcing people on, on a daily basis.”
Along with wildfires, the Chico Fire Department has lost many firefighters due to retirements over the past two years. The coronavirus pandemic has also presented its challenges.
“We have been running short," said Captain, Carlos Munoz. "Girls and guys and everyone in the department is working extra. People are working outside of their regular shift just to be able to maintain our minimum staffing on a daily basis. So as soon as we get these guys trained up and ready to hit the floor and prepared to start serving the community, It’s going to be great to have some relief for the current floor members.”
Munoz explained what the probationary firefighters are working on in training right now.