State Fire Agency to Cut Seasonal Staff in Southern California

California’s budget deficit is forcing staffing cuts to firefighters in areas ravaged by wildfires this year.

The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said it is laying off seasonal firefighters in San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and a station in Corona will be closed.

Agency spokesman Daniel Berlant says 277 seasonal workers who work a maximum of nine months per year will lose their jobs and be rehired in April 2009.

Berlant says no permanent employees will be affected and noted that as rain falls and temperatures drop, so does the chance of wildfire.

The layoffs will save the state an estimated $6.3 million.