El Paso Fire Department

Managing overtime is a constant challenge for any organization tasked with service delivery. El Paso Fire Officials agree the primary concern remains the health and safety of the citizens of El Paso. Many El Paso citizens are unaware of the El Paso Fire Department's efforts to control overtime while meeting the service demands of the community. With the acute need to manage labor, and specifically overtime, implementing changes that allows the El Paso Fire Department to effectively manage their workforce is a priority. As a result the El Paso Fire Department has implemented the following changes:

• Staffing on the Hazmat unit is temporarily reduced to three firefighters and increases the size of the response task force to three units. Pumper 1, Ladder 1, and Hazmat 1 are now designated as a task force. Hazmat techs will be kept at Central fire station. This is a temporary measure.
• Bring over thirteen firefighters from the Fire Prevention Division and Logistics and implement the weekend staffing plan (This is a temporary measure as needed until staffing overtime levels out).
• Graduate the pre-certified firefighter trainee class early (one week earlier than usual).
• Graduate the six month traditional firefighter class early (two weeks earlier than usual).
• Front-load traditional class EMT section training and graduate those with pre-existing FF certification early.
• Implement the Sick Leave reduction/reward pilot program on a rolling six-month basis.
• Strictly enforce existing sick leave policies and procedures.