Jersey City reshaping fire department, claims up to $1M in savings

By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Jersey City is restructuring its fire department once again, eliminating an entire battalion in an effort the city says will save up to $1 million.

Reducing from four to three battalions will place more firefighters on duty and free up fire captains who had been acting as safety officers, the city says.

The move, which comes one month after the city combined the fire and police departments into one public-safety agency, will help reduce skyrocketing overtime costs in the fire department, according to the city.

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