Firefighters, union leaders tell High Point council staffing levels put crews and residents at risk

Multiple current and former firefighters and representatives of firefighter organizations urged the High Point City Council on Monday to address what they described as a staffing crisis in the High Point Fire Department, saying persistent understaffing reduces safety for residents and for firefighters.

The concerns were raised during the public comment period. Scott Mullins, president of the Professional Firefighters & Paramedics in North Carolina, cited National Institute of Standards and Technology research and urged the city to maintain four-person fire crews, saying the evidence shows larger crews complete critical tasks faster and more safely. "4 person firefighting crews can complete 22 essential firefighting and rescue tasks in a typical residential structure 30% faster than 2 person crews and 25% faster than 3 person crews," Mullins said.

Union representatives and former firefighters gave consistent accounts of recent operational impacts. Robert Templeton, who said he represents…