DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There are growing concerns over firefighter burnout in one part of Lackawanna County. Dunmore and the Firefighters Union are working to reach an agreement to hire full-time firefighters.
Both sides claim safety is their number one priority.
Despite the borough's push for transparency, they have yet to answer our questions regarding the staffing issues.
After months of pleading for new hires to fill vacancies at the Dunmore Fire Department, the borough has taken a step toward progress.
Last week, the Borough of Dunmore announced a civil service exam for entry-level firefighter positions.
The borough last administered a civil service exam in December 2023.
Local 860 President Todd Flaherty says the department is lacking three full-time employees.
The members of Local 860 have been working excessive amounts of overtime for a few years, which is leading to burnout and can potentially cause health issues. The Union and the Borough are currently attempting to reach an agreement to hire more Full Time Firefighters. Keeping residents safe is our #1 priority.
Local 860 President Todd Flaherty
The Borough of Dunmore posted a letter to their social media on Wednesday morning in response to Local 8-60's "out of service post" on Monday.
We want to address recent public statements made by the fire department union regarding staffing levels and to provide you with the full context and facts.
First and foremost, the safety and well-being of our residents is our top priority. While it is true that our fire department is currently facing staffing challenges, what was not mentioned in the union's recent comments is that the Borough has been actively engaged in ongoing discussions with union leadership to resolve these issues. In fact, we met with representatives from the fire department shortly before their statement was released, continuing a series of meetings aimed at addressing staffing concerns and working toward sustainable, long-term solutions.
We want to assure the public that Borough Council and Mayor are taking this matter seriously and are moving swiftly to address staffing shortfalls. We are committed to transparency, to supporting our first responders, and — most importantly-to keeping our community safe.
We appreciate the dedication of our firefighters and thank the public for their patience and understanding as we work through these challenges together.
Borough of Dunmore
Shortfalls that have taken months to address.
28/22 news first told you about issues with staffing the Dunmore Fire Department in October of 2024.
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This shortage forces the department to "brown out" its ladder service on days when they don't have enough staff.
This means the Scranton Fire Department is automatically dispatched to cover emergency calls in Dunmore.
On Monday, the Dunmore Firefighters' Union said the following:
Due to ongoing manpower shortages, Ladder 6 will be out of service from 7 am to 7 pm. However, Rescue 6 will continue providing fire protection to Borough residents with the 3 firefighters on shift. We will require automatic mutual aid from the City of Scranton which will pull resources away from their coverage area.
Unfortunately, we have been operating with reduced staffing for over two years, after three full-time firefighters retired and were not replaced. This has forced our remaining firefighters to try and cover the gaps, resulting in thousands of hours of overtime each year.
We ask that you keep this situation in mind as you prepare to vote on May 20th. Public safety should be a top priority, and it’s important to support leadership that values and invests in our community’s emergency services.
Dunmore Firefighters Union
Applications for the civil service exam are due by next Friday, May 23.
