CBS6 continues to investigate staffing challenges at the Troy Fire Department, something that first responders say can put public safety at risk.
Just this month, the department welcomed three new recruits to the force.
MORE: Troy fire department still experiences staffing shortage causing delays in response time
But while these new hires help, the president of the union that represents Troy firefighters tells CBS6 not by much. With one member of the department leaving this week to work in a fire department in another city, there are 12 vacant positions left that need to be filled.
Eric Wisher, president of the Troy Uniform Firefighters Association Local 86, says that the staffing crisis is fueled by a lack of qualified applicants. But he says the city can do something to change that.
The challenge is the paramedic requirement that is on the exam announcement requiring someone to be a paramedic.There’s not a lot of people going to paramedic school. It’s not a profession they’re getting into just to be a fireman,” said Wisher.
Wisher says that a lack of staffing in recent years have put a strain on the city’s firefighters.
Even though the Troy Fire Department had three new recruits join this month, Wisher feels that the department is losing firefighters as fast as they’re hiring them.
“We have a lot more retirees by the end of the year,” said Wisher.
But it’s not that the city isn’t hiring. Wisher says the number of qualified applicants is low.
MORE: Potential of Summer COVID-19 Surge in Capital Region
Currently, you need to be paramedic certified to be a firefighter in Troy. But paramedic training costs thousands of dollars.
If the city lowered that requirement to an EMT certification, Wisher believes they would have a bigger pool of qualified people the department can hire.
With the cost of paramedic training most likely an obstacle to getting qualified candidates, CBS6’S Briana Supardi asked Wisher if it’s possible for the city to pay for the training.
“The city used to pay for that prior to nine years ago,” said WIsher.
Wisher said the city stopped footing the bill for it as a measure to cut costs.
Previously to nine years ago, the city would have an EMT requirement. They would hire you and send you to paramedic school and they got away from that to try and save money,” said Wisher.
Wisher says the city could also attract more people to the job by improving the salary, which starts at just above $37,000 a year..
“By the time you take taxes out, if you take the tuition out the first year, you take out their health insurance–what they pay in health insurance, they’re making like $12,000 a year for the first year of take home. That’s not a lot of money to live on. That’s not a lot of money to live on for somebody that has to rent an apartment or somebody that has a family with kids,” said Wisher.
MORE: Small businesses struggle amid nationwide labor shortage
CBS6 reached out to the mayor’s office for a response to some of Wisher’s concerns.
In a statement, Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said, “I hear from businesses often about how the pandemic has impacted their ability to recruit and retain employees. The City of Troy is no different than many communities across the region who are struggling to attract individuals to take the firefighter civil service exam, an issue facing the entire healthcare system.
I applaud Troy’s fire professionals that serve the needs of our residents and keep our neighborhoods safe. To support them, this administration made record investments in the Troy Fire Department including the purchase of new turnout gear, new fire engines, and the planned replacement of the Lansingburgh station. We will continue to work with our fire chiefs and command staff to meet staffing needs in the department.”