By FireRescue1 Staff
SOUTH TUCSON, Ariz. — Nearly half of a fire department’s reserve firefighters handed in their resignation after learning about a new fire engine staffing plan that they say is unsafe.
KGUN9 reported that 22 South Tucson reserve firefighters said they will be leaving the department in two weeks because a new plan was put in place to only staff three firefighters on their only fire engine.
The resigning firefighters said having three crew members to an engine is unsafe.
The plan was put in place after budget cuts left the department unable to fully staff the engine.
The city said one of the reasons the fire department costs are so high is because South Tucson does not charge insurance companies for service, which is what other cities do.
Officials said they are working on a way to keep citizens safe, but staffing plans have not been announced.