Fire Chief Dave Peredo says that the number of GFD personnel volunteering for military deployment is hurting his department.  In fact, it's causing such a shortage that the fire chief is now only allowing leave sharing for deployed firefighters on a discretionary basis. Peredo says he supports the military's efforts to protect freedom but that some personnel were volunteering and using leave sharing to extend the period during their deployment where they'd get two paychecks.  "The majority of our guys volunteer and this is the certain deployment category I'm addressing because it's been a practice that they volunteer any time they want".

One solution GFD is looking at is recruiting new firefighters to reopen the training academy.