Last summer, 21 News reported on Youngstown fire stations temporarily closing on a rotating basis to save money on overtime.

Back then, officials said it would only last through the end of 2020, but it's still happening today.

A lack of manpower for Youngstown firefighters is causing some of the issues in the department. Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley names call-offs at the top of the list.


"If I don't have enough people to man the fire trucks, then I'm forced to shut down a truck," said Finley. "That's not my fault, that's not the mayor's fault, that's not the city's fault, that is the firefighters' fault. Come to work," he said, referring to his employees.


The firefighters, however, are disagreeing, saying the bottom line is that they just need new recruits.

"The only thing that needs to be done is hire more personnel, and that hasn't happened in three and a half years," said Charlie Smith, Youngstown Fire Department Battalion Chief, and Union President. "This is strictly a numbers game when it comes to how many people we have employed by the fire department. Not one person has been written up for misabusing their sick time. That has nothing to do with it," he said.

Mayor Tito Brown tells 21 News that the city is working to begin hiring, but there hasn't been a decision on how many recruits will be brought on board.


"We're at a point right now where we're trying to make sure we do our part and fill those positions," said Mayor Brown. "That's why I would love to make sure people know that we're gonna be looking for firefighters and police officers in the next two months in the city of Youngstown," he said.


Chief Finley says finding recruits may pose a challenge if the pay rate doesn't increase.


"The fire department, the police department, you know, we start out at 26 thousand dollars, that's below poverty," Finley said. "Who you gonna get to go run in a burning building or get shot at for 26 thousand dollars? Nobody! So there are some things that you know, we, as a city, know that we have to change," he said.


"It's very frustrating that every time we turn around, it's the mayor. It's the fire chief, pointing the fingers at the firefighters saying that we're abusing overtime," Smith said. "That is not the case. That's not what's happening; the city needs to hire firefighters, we have a very important job, and we need to be properly staffed," he said.


Chief Finley says they're working on making the changes that the city needs, but they still need help in the meantime.