BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bethlehem Fire Department is struggling with a staffing shortage.
New numbers show a lack of manpower at fire stations and on engines and ladder trucks.
The city operates with about 99 firefighters, the Union head says it should be 104.
The President of the Firefighters Union, Lou Jiminez, says that has systemically led to shortages in other areas, including at the Northwest Firehouse on Catasaqua Avenue.
“The data doesn’t lie. The data was provided by the city,” he says.
Jiminez points to numbers from a yet-to-be released study from the state Professional Fire Fighters and just released stats from the International Association of Firefighters.
Regulations recommend four firefighters per engine and ladder truck. Jiminez says the city has been getting by with only two people.
“Right now, local 735 would like to have some assurance from the city that we are going to progress forward towards that number, being fiscally responsible,” he says.
Jiminez says the studies recommend the city should have 30 firefighters per shift. He says it’s currently routinely at 18, which leads to other issues, for example, one officer overseeing three stations, including the Northwest Station, when there should be one officer for every station.
“He is responsible for the engine crews on engine nine, engine six, and ladder two. And normally you would have one fire officer per fire apparatus,” Jiminez states.
According to Jiminez, failure to follow professional recommendations and standards is an epidemic all over the state, not just in Bethlehem.
“This is something that that needs to be done. Our staffing needs to be increased. It hasn’t been increased in almost 50 years,” he says.
We asked Fire Chief Matthew Griffin to comment, and he did.
Regarding officers covering more than one fire station, Griffin says, “we are currently operating within our budget-approved staffing guidelines. The results of a proposed comprehensive study will assist the city in determining the proper allocation of Fire and EMS resources. The city is currently in the process of reviewing proposals for that independent study.”