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Minneapolis Fire Dept. to increase staffing

Minneapolis Fire Dept. to increase staffing

An aging staff means the department could lose nearly half of its firefighters over the next 10 years

By Jana Shortal
KARE 11

MINNEAPOLIS — To say staffing issues at the Minneapolis Fire Department have been a hot issue for the past few years would be a gross understatement. Not even two years ago, under then Fire Chief Alex Jackson the city was letting firefighters go.

"In the fall of 2011, the city council decided to lay off firefighters, now in 2013 they decide we have to hire firefighters. It's very frustrating," Minneapolis Fire Capt. Joe Mattison said Wednesday night.

It's been tumultuous to say the least, those laid off firefighters were added last July when the city got a federal grant.

Full story: Minneapolis Fire Department set to beef up staff