Excerpts from wglt.org:
The Bloomington City Council on Monday OK’d the fire department’s plan to ease hiring rules tied to paramedic licensing.
Previously, the city mandated only licensed paramedics be considered for open firefighter positions. But that no longer is the case with Monday’s vote.
The Bloomington Fire Department still expects its firefighters to be paramedics. But under the new policy, if a new firefighter doesn’t have the paramedic certification, BFD staff will train them.
The change builds a broader candidate pool in a climate where BFD, like many other U.S. fire departments, struggle to fill ranks.
Monday’s vote was 8-0. Ward 5’s Nick Becker was absent.
