VIDEO: The Hastings Fire and Rescue department is used to responding to emergency situations on a daily basis, but now a call for help from their own department is being answered by the Hastings City Council. According to a letter sent to the city council by fire officials, the department has been short staffed for nearly a whole year, causing burn out, physical and mental strain, significant overtime work and low morale in staff.
Fire Chief Troy Vorderstrasse told NCN that the department is currently sitting at just under 90% fully staffed. That’s causing 53% of shifts worked now to be classified as overtime work. “Based on our numbers, our current staffing, and the wear and tear on our current employees on our team, I believe this is warranted to maintain those that are already working here dedicated to the city of Hastings, to keep them from burnout, mental anguish, physical anguish, and keep them in our city, working for us, and spending their dollars here.” said Vorderstrasse.
In response, HFR presented a request for a retention bonus for all current employees to the city council Monday night. Itโs identical to a program started by the Hastings Police Department back in 2022, and the letter says that program by the PD has been well received in the last three years. The letter to the council says that in 2022, the former department head didn’t feel like retention bonuses were warranted for the department.
