From The Washington Post: District Fire & EMS Chief Kenneth Ellerbe is moving to reduce the length of firefighter shifts in an attempt to eliminate overtime costs and reduce the number of firefighters who live as far away as New Jersey and South Carolina.

Through the elimination of overtime costs and attrition that will likely take three to four years, the department would save $36 million annually under the new, 12-hour shift system, Ellerbe said.

Currently, city firefighters work a 24-hour shift, then get 72 hours off. Under Ellerbe’s proposal, they would work two 12-hour day shifts on consecutive days, then two 12-hour night shifts, then a day off before restarting the cycle.

Ellerbe said the system will increase the number of days worked from eight to 22 and add 60 to 80 firefighters per shift. He also said it will allow the department to more quickly recall personnel during an emergency and will reduce the chances of accidents on the job. Read the entire article here.