PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence officials say the city didn’t have enough firefighters on duty Saturday or Sunday and those who didn’t report to work could be prosecuted.
The city’s contract with the firefighters’ union requires 94 members to be working at all times under the minimum manning provision.
The public safety commissioner told WPRI-TV there were 83 firefighters on duty Saturday night.
The firefighters’ union says members who wanted to work were sent home because they had worked too many hours.
A city official told The Providence Journal that only 91 firefighters reported for duty for the Sunday morning shift.
The city says it will prosecute firefighters for not working when called to fill in for absences.
The mayor’s office says messages were intercepted between firefighters that said not to report for callbacks.
