The Shreveport Fire Department is facing a critical shortage of roughly 75 firefighters, forcing the agency to operate understaffed crews. Shreveport Fire Chief Clarence Reese Jr. says the department currently falls short of national safety standards.
Staffing Deficit
The deficit has left the department reliant on three-man crews for its pumper trucks, a practice that has been in place for an extended period. National Fire Protection Association standards require a minimum of four personnel on a pumper truck. Currently, Shreveport units deploy with only a captain, a driver, and a single firefighter.
Reese warned that the staffing deficit poses a direct challenge during structural fires where victims are trapped inside, noting that smaller crews require more time to enter a home and execute rescues. To compensate for fewer personnel per truck, the department must dispatch additional emergency vehicles to active scenes.
Officials noted that this workaround is financially draining for the city, particularly given high fuel prices. The department hopes to jumpstart relief with an upcoming academy class scheduled for Aug. 15. While 130 candidates applied, Reese cautioned that numbers don’t equate to quality, adding that several applicants struggled during the initial physical agility testing.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
