By Sarah Roebuck
FireRescue1
NORTH COLLEGE HILL, Ohio — A majority of the North College Hill Fire Department membership handed in their resignations Saturday after several members reported that they had reached a “breaking point,” the fire department announced on social media.
The resignations of approximately 75% of department membership will go into effect at 6 a.m. on March 17. The resignations include all chief officers, as well as a majority of lieutenants, and senior and experienced firefighters and paramedics.
According to the resignation letter signed by 15 members of the department, “poor performance” and “hostile actions” from certain city leaders are factors in the decision to resign. This hostility from city leaders caused a “devastating effect on morale, recruitment, retention and day-to-day operations,” the letter stated.
“The mental, emotional, physical and financial tolls have culminated to this breaking point. We’re sorry that it has had to come to this, we hope that the city can do better in the future and wish you good health,” members stated in the social media post.
According to FOX19 NOW, once the resignations take effect, there will be 10 active-duty firefighters left. The city stated that mutual-aid partners in Hamilton County will assist North College Hill with calls, and there will be no service interruption.