he does have a lengthy criminal
record we will tell you more record we will tell you more
about that tonight about that tonight
at 6 reporting live Maryann at 6 reporting live Maryann
Martinez KPRC Channel 2 news. Martinez KPRC Channel 2 news.
>> Mary Ann. Thank you >> Mary Ann. Thank you
developing developing
tonight, Houston. tonight, Houston.
>> Firefighters are leaving >> Firefighters are leaving
their jobs and going to other their jobs and going to other
departments for departments for
more money. more money.
>> Dozens have resigned since >> Dozens have resigned since
the start of the year and the the start of the year and the
firefighters union says it’s firefighters union says it’s
because they’re tired of because they’re tired of
waiting on pay raises that were waiting on pay raises that were
approved by voters back in approved by voters back in
2018. 2018.
>> Channel 2 investigator Joel >> Channel 2 investigator Joel
eisenbaum is live at fire eisenbaum is live at fire
station 9 just north of station 9 just north of
downtown with the new downtown with the new
developments show. developments show.
>> Tell you what you listen >> Tell you what you listen
to the mayor and you talk to to the mayor and you talk to
the chief about this subject of the chief about this subject of
attrition in too many attrition in too many
firefighters leaving the fire firefighters leaving the fire
Department and going to other Department and going to other
Texas fire departments, they Texas fire departments, they
really don’t openly really don’t openly
acknowledge it, but they do acknowledge it, but they do
have a problem and I think have a problem and I think
today we saw czink in the today we saw czink in the
city’s armor because they’re city’s armor because they’re
put in some degree of money on put in some degree of money on
♪ ♪
the table. the table.
>> For the last 19 years >> For the last 19 years
hfd cadets have been paid the hfd cadets have been paid the
same poultry 28 grand a year. same poultry 28 grand a year.
But announced Friday a huge But announced Friday a huge
raise nearly 8 raise nearly 8
$1000 annually for those $1000 annually for those
firefighter firefighter
trainees but the plain truth trainees but the plain truth
may really be the city had to may really be the city had to
do it we’re do it we’re
hemorrhaging firefighters. hemorrhaging firefighters.
>> Wait what we’re seeing right >> Wait what we’re seeing right
now Joe is something that we’ve now Joe is something that we’ve
never seen in the history of never seen in the history of
the Houston the Houston
Fire Department. Fire Department.
>> 2 investigates has learned >> 2 investigates has learned
that on some days hfd no longer that on some days hfd no longer
has enough has enough
individual firefighters to man individual firefighters to man
all the equipment so the city all the equipment so the city
must instead rely on expensive must instead rely on expensive
taxpayer funded taxpayer funded
over time to reach proper over time to reach proper
staffing levels season staffing levels season
firefighters you paid to train firefighters you paid to train
are leaving in droves for other are leaving in droves for other
Texas fire departments that pay Texas fire departments that pay
better a source tells us 85 better a source tells us 85
firefighters have turned into firefighters have turned into
Karcher paperwork. Karcher paperwork.
>> Just since January first >> Just since January first
what I can tell you is public what I can tell you is public
safety is already safety is already
at risk. The fire chief who at risk. The fire chief who
declined an on camera interview declined an on camera interview
request Friday paints a much request Friday paints a much
different picture seeing the different picture seeing the
city saw this coming and months city saw this coming and months
ago made adjustments quote hfd ago made adjustments quote hfd
budgeted for 155 attrition in budgeted for 155 attrition in
fiscal fiscal
year 20, as of 2 1920 were at year 20, as of 2 1920 were at
one 35 we have been approved to one 35 we have been approved to
hire 180 cadets hire 180 cadets
this year and currently have this year and currently have
104 in training we continue to 104 in training we continue to
actively recruit. >> So bottom line this evening >> So bottom line this evening
is that big pay raise only is that big pay raise only
applies to cadets at about a applies to cadets at about a
100 people as for the thousands 100 people as for the thousands
of others that are firefighters
