Nearly one-fifth of Williamsport’s 33 paid firefighters have tested positive for the coronavirus and are off work.
Chief Mark Killian Monday said despite the temporary loss of six firefighters, the level of service remains unchanged.
Each of the four shifts has an average of six firefighters working out of headquarters and one satellite station. There are two chiefs. The city has mutual aid agreements with volunteer units in the suburbs. “Hopefully it will not affect overtime too much, said Councilwoman Bonnie Katz, who chairs the public safety committee.
Fire department overtime this year is budgeted at $275,000 but as of July 31 only $111,000 had been spent, according to acting finance director Joseph Pawlak.