By Joelyn Hansen
The Idaho Falls Post Register
BLACKFOOT, Idaho — Blackfoot firefighters have been put on notice of possible layoffs in June.
The Blackfoot Fire Department told employees Friday morning that if city and Bingham County officials don’t come to a resolution in an ongoing dispute over how to provide and pay for ambulance services in the county by May 23, half of all city firefighters could be laid off, BFD Capt. Craig Stallings said.
The department currently has about 24 employees, almost all of whom are cross-trained as emergency medical technicians and/or paramedics and frequently serve as crew members on city ambulances.
“We’re hoping they get it all worked out,” Stallings said. “Right now it’s up in the air.”
Stallings said the layoffs are not definite but noted the city’s contract with the firefighter’s union requires at least a 60-day notice for any layoffs.
City and county officials have been negotiating a new ambulance contract since the county opted out of the current contract Nov. 23, Bingham County Commissioner Donavan Harrington said. Once the county chose to opt out, the contract was reset to expire in 180 days.
Mayor Mike Virtue said the Blackfoot City Council will meet early next week in executive session to discuss the contract. He made no predictions on the results of the meeting.
“There will be a resolution,” he said. “What that resolution is we don’t know at this point.”
Harrington said county residents should be assured that ambulance service will be available, whether it’s provided by the city of Blackfoot or a private company.
“The bottom line is there will always be ambulance service,” he said.
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