Ten firefighters let go, more cuts looming in Elyria

ELYRIA -- Mayor Bill Grace says Elyria's financial inferno that led to 10 firefighters being laid off Wednesday is getting hotter after new income tax deficit projections doubled what was expected.

"All that was based on 4.6 percent reduction and we're now at 10, so there's more cuts that are going to be coming," Grace said.      

More cuts is the last thing fire fighters even had time to hear. Early Wednesday morning, every available fire fighter responded to an apartment building fire in which a woman jumped from a second floor to avoid the flames.

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For some of these Elyria firefighters who were at the blaze, it was their last fire. They were among the 10 who were let go Wednesday morning. The firefighters that remain say the reductions have confirmed for the public.    

"We're scrambling right to figure out how to fight fire with potentially nine guys on the scene," Union President Dean Marks said.    

He says that's dangerous for a public that relies on tools like the jaws of life.    

"Response times will on average be increased, and there will be fewer fire fighters ultimately at the fire scene," Mayor Grace said.    

Marks said, "It's going to put a huge risk to the civilians. At some point there's only going to be so much we can do to effectively try to put the fire out, let alone try to go in and try to rescue somebody."