NOLA.com
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Fire Department says it plans to hire up to 50 firefighters over the next year, ending a five-year run during which the department maintained a de facto hiring freeze.
Interested applicants can apply through an online portal set up by the city. A decade ago, it was common for the department to have 800 firefighters or more. Today, it has about 612, of which 570 work in front line fire suppression, said Superintendent Tim McConnell.
“Finally we are seeing the chief move forward with hiring employees for the Fire Department,” said Nick Felton, head of the local firefighters’ union and a vocal critic of what he calls the department’s dangerous understaffing.
Full story: New Orleans Fire Department seeks up to 50 recruits after 5-year hiring freeze