HEMET – (INT) – Petitions seeking an election over the future of the Hemet Fire Department are being checked to see if they qualify. County election officials may have an answer yet this month.

Meantime, Steve Sandefer at the Hemet Firefighters Association challenges assertions that pensions are too much of a financial burden on the city even if Calfire takes over local fire protection.

“It makes no sense because you have to pay guys named Joe or Jim because they’re both getting a pension after 30 years.”

Hemet and the firefighters association have signed a letter of agreement to create a firefighter-paramedic program even after the City Council voted to dissolve the 106-year-old fire department.

Story Date: October 21, 2014