Dayton Fire Chief: Reports of staffing cuts are not true

Reports of changes in staffing and use of fire trucks have some residents concerned about fewer firefighters on the streets, but Dayton’s Fire Chief said that’s not the case.

Several callers into our newsroom expressed concern about an engine being taken out of service, and medics being cross-staffed.

Dayton Fire Chief Jeff Payne said this is not a result of cuts in the department, but rather the changes are simply occasionally changing which truck is taken out of service when staffing levels are low.

“There are no cuts to the Dayton Fire Department,” Payne told News Center 7’s Mike Campbell. “If anything, between the recruit class that just graduated, 21 people last Friday, and we're authorized to hire overtime to keep eight engines in service when possible.”

In 2016, voters approved an income tax increase that ensured there would be no cuts to staffing levels at the fire department.

Payne said the changing of trucks when staff levels are low will happen much less often now due to the approval of the income tax increase.

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