Atlanta fire stations reopen

ATLANTA - Atlanta fire officials have reopened five stations closed over the weekend after a rash of firefighters called in sick.

The chief says his department was left in ``an extremely vulnerable situtation'' because of the absenteeism.

The stations reopened Monday morning.

Fire stations closed in areas including Buckhead and Candler Park after Chief Kelvin J. Cochran says 27 firefighters called in sick Sunday, Super Bowl Sunday. He says that's more than double the norm but that there is usually an increase in the number of people calling in sick on payday, on weekends, and when there's a holiday or a big event like the Super Bowl.

Lt. Jim Daws is head of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 134. He says the sick calls were not an organized effort, just a consequence of budget and pay cuts.

He says firefighters have seen an 18 percent pay cut through furloughs and reduced overtime.