Hartford Fire Department Looking to Raise Staffing Levels, Accepting Applications

The Hartford city government may have no new money to spend, but it's a priority to raise the staffing level in the fire department. Last Tuesday the city started accepting applications for new firefighters to fill current openings and more to come.

Right now Hartford's fire department has 58 vacancies and counting. Firefighters have been on duty for longer shifts than normal to cover the gaps, gaps officials want filled as soon as possible. But there are specific requirements.

"First and foremost they have to be Hartford residents at the time of application," he said.

Applicants also have to be at least 18, with a high school diploma or GED, and a valid driver's license.

Though the job title is firefighter, the job is much more than traditional firefighting. Almost 80 percent of the calls are medical calls, just part of what recruits get exposed to in training.

"We're gonna have to go through a fourteen week academy, and in that academy we'll go through hazardous materials, occupational, we'll also go through firefighting, emergency medical response," Ortiz said.

Starting salary is close to $53,000 a year, with ten percent less for the first six months. The deadline for applying at City Hall is September 13.

Ortiz said residents need not be concerned about the firehouses being covered or first responders being overtired. The fire department and the union are monitoring workloads of the firefighters working long shifts, to make sure they get the rest they need to make high-risk and live-saving calls.

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