DeKalb County lays off 82 firefighter recruits

DECATUR - Officials in DeKalb County say that 82 firefighter recruits have been laid off in the wake of budget cuts.

Fire Chief Eddie O'Brien says eliminating the positions will help preserve jobs for about 810 existing firefighters/paramedics in DeKalb County.

O'Brien said the same number of firefighters will respond to house fires. However, the county this summer will no longer staff ambulances to transport patients to hospitals.

The DeKalb County Commission last month rejected a tax increase and cut $33.6 million from the budget. That included about $7 million from the fire department.