LA HABRA

The city may get six new firefighters this summer to help cope with the growing community. In a study session last week, Fire Chief Mike McGroarty gave council members a status report on the city’s firefighting capabilities and discussed increasing the department’s staffing.

McGroarty suggested hiring at least six new firefighters to add to the 33 employed by the city today. “Our number of personnel has been the same since the 1970s,� McGroarty said. “Meanwhile, the city has grown and our responsibilities have grown as well.� The city could hire new firefighters or start an apprentice program to train new people, fire officials said.