Clark County officials warn fire services could be reduced without new hires, equipment repairs

Clark County Fiscal Court members were told Tuesday that the county’s fire department faces a personnel shortfall and aging equipment that officials say could force reduced service unless the court approves hires and repairs.

The point-of-urgency came from the fire chief and department staff, who said the department is currently short five positions and could lose four to five more to retirements this year. "It takes about 13 weeks to get these guys trained enough to be on the truck," the chief said, adding that unscheduled overtime this year has cost the department substantially and that hiring would likely be the cheaper long-term option.

The court heard a cost estimate for training from Jim, a fire-department official: "It's about $16,000 per individual when we train," he said, a figure the court discussed when weighing commitments for new recruits. Court members also heard an explicit…