Oregon Fire & Rescue short staffed

OREGON, Ohio (WTVG) – A nationwide shortage of firefighters is on the way. Oregon’s fire chief says department is struggling with staffing shortages.

The department is short 12 full-time firefighters, according to a study done by the chief as part of his strategic plan.

Chief O’Brien said the department is in the midst of transitioning from what used to be mostly volunteers to hiring more full-time staff. O’Brien said at one point the department had about 100 volunteer firefighters, but that has dwindled to 14 local emergency responders. He said the numbers for volunteers just aren’t what they used to be.

The Oregon City Council approved 10 part-time hires along with 3 full-time firefighters to be hired immediately. But with knowledge tests, physical exams, interviews, etc., Chief OBrien said the hiring process for a full-time employee typically takes 3-4 months. Both the part-time and full-time positions are expected to start in September.

But finding the money to hire the other 9 full-time firefighters has council members conflicted. Chief O’Brien told 13 Action News the city is in the running for a grant from FEMA, but if they don’t get the money, it will have to come from another source, approved by the council.

The city council discussed a possible income tax levy to put on the November ballot, back in April, but it was shot down 5-2. Some members say they weren’t even aware there was a shortage until a week before they voted.

“We feel there is a problem with transparency within the council,” said Oregon City Council safety committee member Steven Salander. “We’re just not getting the information we need to make the right decisions.”

However, Safety Committee Chairwoman Kathleen Pollauf said there have been five safety meetings this year. This includes one on February 5 that discussed the fire department’s need to hire.

“This is not a problem that’s only been around for the last few months, this problem has been going on for the last few years,” Kathleen Pollauf said.

But with no grants yet and no fee, Chief O’Brien said it could be months before the department is fully staffed. He said he plans to request about 3 positions per year for the next 3 years.

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