VIDEO: A fire department in Berkeley County says a change to firefighter shifts is showing positive results. The Berkeley Fire Department and EMS piloted a change for its firefighters from 24-48-hour schedules to 48-96-hour schedules for six months last summer before making the switch permanently in January of this year. Firefighters nationwide often work 24-48 shifts, meaning they are on duty for 24 hours and then get 48 hours off. But fire departments across the country are shifting to a different model that has firefighters working 48 hours at a time and then being off for four days. The shift is designed to ease the high-stress shifts firefighters work that can lead to a lack of sleep and less time with family. The National Library of Medicine says the lack of sleep decreases work performance and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.