LANSING, Mich. — A bill signed earlier this week by Gov. Rick Snyder (R-Mich.) ended a ban on full-time firefighters working for other departments on their days off.
MLive reported that the law began as a reaction when the city of Grand Rapids began prohibiting its firefighters from two-hatting. The city initially said they didn’t want to train firefighters and have them work elsewhere, according to the report. They also didn’t want firefighters putting themselves at risk fighting fires in other communities.
The Michigan House passed the bill late last year and the state Senate passed it earlier this month, according to the report. Gov. Snyder signed it into law on Oct. 15.
“It’s going to make a huge difference,” Allendale Township Fire Chief Michael Keefe said. “It potentially could bring back two fire officers for me. The other local departments I know it’s going to bring back a deputy chief, another lieutenant. (The rule) affects our daytime response. These (full-time Grand Rapids firefighters) are paid-on-call firefighters on their day off. They’re around during the day.”