WFD swears in new firefighters

Staff report

WARREN

The Warren Fire Department has sworn in six new firefighters and still needs one more.

The six will be paid with money from the department’s $5 million, 2-year, federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program grant.

The department met the requirements of the grant in April 2011 with the hiring of 15 firefighters, bringing its staffing level to 75.

But several firefighters have retired or resigned since then, said Ken Nussle, Warren fire chief.

The grant requires the department to have 75 firefighters until the end of the grant, which is Nov. 26.

The department recently asked the Warren Civil Service Commission to give a test for entry-level firefighters because the current hiring list has been exhausted.

The new list will provide the one additional firefighter, plus any others needed in the event of additional retirements or resignations through Nov. 26.

The six new firefighters are Matthew Heinl of Akron, Brandon Gaines of Warren, Michael Mantle of Middleburg Heights, Wayne Berger of Parma, John Fortune of Ashtabula and Adam Lovell of Akron.