WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) - Wausau fire officials are scrambling to find 5 new hires.

The replacements are for two retirements and three resignations which all happened in the last two months. City officials are trying to speed up the hiring process. The department is a full time service which usually has 54 people on staff. The shortage of people means some firemen are pulling overtime to cover shifts.

Officials are turning to the technical college system to help cover applicants for the department. Applicants must be firefighter 2 certified and have paramedic status to get hired. They're hoping to have the five positions filled by May.