The traditional schedule for firefighters across the country is a 24 hours on/48 hours off timetable.
But the Naperville Fire Department’s new “Power Shifting” initiative is an attempt to make that plan more efficient.
“What we’re doing here is taking a group of individuals and moving them from a 24-hour shift to a 40-hour workweek during peak hours, hours we know are busier,” said Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis.
Puknaitis said 54 percent of fire department calls occur during the Power Shifting schedule – from 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
This will allow four additional emergency responders to be available during these times, without incurring any additional costs.
“This is an innovative move by the Naperville Fire Department that we hope will be replicated throughout the area and throughout the country.”
The first day of the Power Shifting schedule was October 22 and the NFD was able to operate two extra ambulances during the day.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.
