MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel gave an eye-opening report Thursday on the increase of firefighter injuries.
Since 2012, firefighter injuries have been rising as the number of firefighters has been shrinking. CBS Minnesota reported that most of the injuries were related to strenuous lifting resulting in back and leg problems.
Mark Lakosky, the president of the Minneapolis Fire Fighters Union Local 82, says it’s something they’ve been dealing with for years since cuts began in their department.
“We’ve been averaging between 19 and 26 injuries, long-term injuries the last few years,” Lakosky said. “I had a guy who just had back surgery yesterday, the second one in a year.”
Lakosky said for the last five or six years, they’ve seen consistent cuts to their department, but the volume of emergency calls have increased.
Over the next few months, the department will lose a number of firefighters due to retirement or permanent disability.
Chief Fruetel said he’d like to have 418 firefighters; right now they’re at 376 and more than 20 are on leave due to injuries, according to the report.
“We had four or five firefighters on a rig a few years ago now those same tasks are being done by three,” Lakosky said. “Fire and police don’t get more affective with less people. You want a good fire department, you need to staff it appropriately.”