Central Illinois firefighters are concerned that budget cuts will put the public at risk. Ryan Brady of Firefighters Local 50 says Peoria’s budget plan calls for a rescue engine to be shut down temporarily more than 40 times through July 31. He says the unit has special equipment, including tools to extract people from car wrecks. Brady, president of the union local, says the department’s ability to respond to an emergency is stretched with the loss of the vehicle and nine firefighter positions. Those slots remain open because Peoria can’t hire recruits. City Manager Patrick Urich says the city is behind on first-quarter financial projections. Officials are struggling to cover a $5.5 million shortfall in last year’s budget.
