Fire Department Understaffed, Seeks New Firefighter/Paramedic

The Park Ridge Fire Department has had to rely on overtime in order to be fully staffed recently, the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate reports.  

The department is in need of another firefighter/paramedic to join the staff after one candidate quit to work for another community. Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen told the Herald-Advocate that the department is hoping to get someone hired by the start of a firefighter academy set to begin April 15. At one point this year, the department was down seven employees due to injuries and other setbacks, the newspaper reports.