Nine Firefighters Laid Off in Groton Amid Budget Cut: Report

Nine firefighters in Groton have been laid off and the fire chief says the department will need help from other districts, according to the Associated Press.

The Day of New London reports the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District board on Thursday laid off 36 percent of the department.

Firefighters said the change would increase emergency response time.

Chief Todd Paige said the impact is actually greater than nine layoffs because the district also has four vacancies.

Poquonnock Bridge is Groton's largest fire district, with 12,000 residents and includes the business strip along Route 1 and town offices.

Taxpayers last month approved a budget of $3.9 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1 - $700,000 less than the district had this fiscal year.