Pingtung Firefighters Pay for Air Conditioning Out of Pocket; Fire Department Promises Review

According to the Central News Agency, the issue of Pingtung County firefighters paying for air conditioning out of pocket has been raised by county councilors. Councilors criticized the situation, noting that firefighters work in high-heat environments and deserve better conditions. Pingtung County Fire Department Chief Li Bin-zheng responded that the current subsidy—1,100 NTD per person in summer and 1,000 NTD in winter—is not equitable across stations of different sizes. He promised a comprehensive review of the situation and stated that the department would seek additional funding from the county government if necessary. Currently, 24 out of 36 stations use electricity meters to monitor usage, and costs exceeding the subsidy are paid by the personnel.