SPRINGFIELD FIRE BURNOUT 

IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, ONE MAJOR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SO UNDERSTAFFED THAT IT IS LITERALLY BURNED OUT. 
SPRINGFIELD FIRE AND RESCUE HAS "BROWNED-OUT" STATION SIX DUE TO SEVERE UNDERSTAFFING. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, FIRE PERSONNEL HAVE LOGGED OVER SEVENTEEN HUNDRED HOURS OF MANDATORY OVERTIME. THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF SERVICE MEANS OTHER FIRE STATIONS HAVE TO PICK UP THE SLACK. SAFETY AND RESPONSE TIME ARE NOW AT ISSUE. FIRE CHIEF JACOB KING SAYS THE MOVE WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT PERSONNEL INJURY AND ENSURE THE READINESS OF RESPONDERS. F-M-L-A LEAVE, INJURIES AND MILITARY DUTY PLUS A LACK OF GRADUATED RECRUITS READY TO SERVE HAS CAUSED THE PROBLEM.