Wausau Fire Department. MWC photo by Mike Leischner.
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve the hire of three additional firefighter and paramedic positions, the first increase in the department’s staffing levels in years.
The move will allow the city to staff three crews of 19 members out of the three fire stations while keeping all leadership positions intact.
Leaders including new Fire Chief Bob Barteck have been calling for more staffing for months, and are applying for grant funding to bring in nine additional staffers. A decision on that is expected by mid-August.
RELATED: Wausau Fire Department to Seek Grant Funding for Additional Firefighters
Barteck says his department has seen a massive increase in call volume and responsibilities since the last staff expansion in the 1970s, which has put a strain on the department and its staffing.
The recruiting process for entry-level and lateral-transfer candidates is already underway. Applications will close on June 19th, with the hiring process beginning immediately thereafter.
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