Providence has thrown out more than 1,000 firefighter applications and canceled a planned, upcoming fire academy.
WPRI reports the move comes as the city has decided that it will begin accepting lateral transfers from other fire departments, eliminating the cost of training new recruits.
The department said it will refund application fees paid by those who applied for the planned fire academy.
Mayor Brett Smiley said once the city has worked its way through the list of applicants from other departments, it may reopen recruiting and plan another academy.
The latest recruitment drive started last fall when the department said it was anticipating a need for new firefighters due to pending retirements. The department currently has 360 firefighters, WPRI reports.
