The Beloit Fire Department is facing a shortage of firefighters after 12 people retired last year and the city only has enough money to replace nine positions. “It’s going to put a lot of pressure on the guys that are remaining, but the guys that did leave were all mentors, and they trained us well, and we’re up for the task,” said Scott Smith, a Beloit fire captain and president of Beloit Professional Firefighters Local #583. Smith said many of the men who retired all started around the same time. “When I started, I came on with 11 guys all within 10 months. So it stands to reason that we’re all going to be reaching retirement age right around the same time,” he said.