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Hemet council files state vacancy report as firefighters warn of staffing strain
Summary
At a June 9 hearing under AB2561, city staff reported a roughly 7% citywide vacancy rate and the Hemet Firefighters Association said the fire department is operating 7 positions below budgeted strength, relying heavily on overtime. Council voted to file the report and acknowledged ongoing recruitment and retention efforts.
The Hemet City Council on June 9 received the annual vacancy report required by Assembly Bill 2561 and voted to file the report after firefighters described the operational toll of current staffing levels.
Human resources manager Norma Reanguel told the council the city's overall vacancy rate measured on Dec. 31, 2025, was about 7 percent (she noted a published agenda typo that had incorrectly said 8 percent was corrected in the presentation). Reanguel summarized citywide recruitment efforts, including expanded job postings, referral bonuses and expedited hiring steps for public-safety departments.
Dave Prito, president of the Hemet Firefighters Association, told the council the department is budgeted for 62 personnel but currently has 55 on staff. "When our members are called to work, overtime means that a 48-hour shift has the potential to become a 72- or a 96-hour shift," Prito said. He described a 17.5 percent increase in annual call volume since 2018 and said vacancies have increased mandatory overtime and strain on firefighters and their families.
Council members asked staff whether positions were frozen; Tiffany Barnett, administrative services director, said the only fire position currently held vacant was the recently vacated deputy fire chief. Council also discussed SAFER grant coverage (which extends funding for positions) and other recruitment and retention initiatives, including cadet and explorer programs and incentives.
After discussion the council voted unanimously to "file the report on the status of city vacancy and recruitment and retention efforts pursuant to Assembly Bill 2561." The motion did not adopt further policy changes; council members said they would continue to monitor recruitment progress and grant opportunities.
Why it matters: Fire departments try to balance staffing, overtime and response reliability. Hemet firefighters described higher-than-typical call volumes and frequent use of overtime to maintain minimum daily staffing at five stations, a dynamic the council flagged as a continuing operational and budget issue.
Next steps: Staff will continue recruitment work, use SAFER grant funding where applicable, and report back on vacancy trends as part of the city's routine oversight under AB2561.
