Barnesville Fire Department adopts new shift schedule to reduce burnout

A small town fire department is the latest in Georgia to change its shift schedules for firefighters to reduce burnout.

The Barnesville Fire Department shifted Friday from a 12 hour work schedule to a 24-72 schedule.

Chief Kelvin Chute said the previous schedule required firefighters to work 12 hour shifts Monday through Sunday with Thursday off and working half a day on Wednesday. Then, the next week the firefighters would be off except for covering the Thursday and Wednesday shifts.

Chute said the schedule was grueling. The new schedule will have firefighters working a full 24 hours before having the next 72 hours off.

“It’s overall healthier for the employees which in turn translates into better service for the citizens,” he said.

This new model is being adopted across the state and country, Chute said.