BAY CITY -- The last two Bay City Firefighters are brought back to work after being laid off for more than a year.
After battling the fire at Bay City Hall this week, firefighters say they look forward to the extra manpower.
NBC25 talked with one of the guys on what it’s like to finally be back to work.
Bay City Firefighter Rick Wells is starting a new chapter in his life.
His son Tyler was born just two weeks ago and Friday he was called back to work for the fire department after being laid off for 15 months.
"I tried to take a negative and turn it into a positive, so I liked it, I spent a lot of time with my kids, but I am happy to be back," said Bay City Firefighter Rick Wells.
Wells got his job back thanks to an $880,000 federal grant, and shared sacrifices from Bay City Fire.
In July, Bay City Firefighters voted to cut almost 11% of their wages in order to bring back two laid off firefighters to the department.
Now that 47 firefighters are working for the department, stress has leveled off.
"We were getting down to not very many guys, so now that we are all back, it’s going to help out a great deal," said Wells.
As for Wells’ home life, he won't have to play Mr. Mom anymore, and his wife Jennifer will be able to spend more time with her three sons.
"It was nice, for once I was home because I was on maternity leave, so I got to stay home and he went back to work," said Rick’s wife, Jennifer Wells.
Wells also plans on going back to school. He's finishing up his nursing degree at Delta College.
"Most likely I am going to continue on with schooling just because with the uncertainty with the economy, and the way things are, I want to have something to fall back on," said Wells.
For now Wells is back doing what he loves.
Firefighter Steve Meyers was also brought back to work Friday.
He says he's glad to be helping the community again.
In total six firefighters were laid off from the Bay City Fire Department.
