More layoffs expected in Harvey as fire department operates with less than half of its staff

HARVEY, Ill. (WLS) -- Two months ago, the city of Harvey had three fully operating fire stations.

Now, firefighters say, on a good day, they have two. But depending on staffing, most days they are down to one.

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And now, the city says more layoffs are on the way, and Harvey's fire department fears for the worst.

"Coming to Harvey was the thing that I've always wanted to do. I took a $60,000 pay cut to leave the plant," said Preston Jackson, a laid off Harvey firefighter.

In November, they were officially terminated. The city of Harvey, $140 million in debt, was forced to cut even more. Now, the department is operating with less than 50% of its staff.

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"In this situation, it significantly increases the chances that something's going to happen to a citizen, and we are going to be unable to help them," said laid off Harvey Fire Department Lt. Keith Freeman.

Freeman, part of the most recent layoffs, now fears for what is to come.

"A few weeks ago, there was a situation where we had a structure fire in the north side of town, and the station one here, on the south side of town, they were stuck in a train," Freeman said.

The National Fire Protection Agency says 46% of home fires happen during the winter months and 53% of home structure deaths happened between November and March.

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In a statement, the city of Harvey called on the federal government and state for assistance, saying, in part, "Because of long-standing financial problems inherited from previous administrations, the City of Harvey has been forced to implement additional layoffs despite our best efforts to prevent them."

"We're all stuck wondering what's our next move as far as coming back. We want to come back. We want to serve the residents of Harvey," Jackson said.

The city says there is public safety continuity plan that includes neighboring fire departments coming to help. But firefighters say that is meant to supplement, not replace, Harvey's fire department.