MichiganRadio

Flint's Firefighter Layoffs Have Suburban Fire Chiefs Worried ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

Proposed firefighter layoffs in Flint have suburban Genesee County fire departments worried. Some fire chiefs say they may not respond to requests for help from Flint.

The city of Flint sent layoff notices to nearly two dozen city firefighters last week. The cuts are tied to the city's ongoing budget problems. If the layoffs go through, Flint may have to close one or two fire stations.

Neighboring communities often have agreements to come to each other's aid in Of case major or multiple fires. But several suburban fire chiefs told the Flint Journal they don't want to be used by the city of Flint to fill its fire fighting gaps, suggesting they may drop out of mutual response agreements.

Flint Mayor Dayne Walling is hopeful the mutual aid agreements will be maintained.

"I look forward to conversations with those other chiefs about how we can continue to support each other, often in these life or death situations with these fires," says Walling.
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