FLINT, Mich. - The Flint Fire Department recently hired five additional firefighters. These firefighters are returning employees to the department. Chief Burton was able to bring all five of these returning firefighters back on with the same wage they left at, but there are some things he wasn't able to allow them to keep.

"They'll come back with their rate of pay that they left with so they don't have to start over. They lose department sonority, so if we hire someone before them they fall behind that person, but they'll get the higher rate of pay for their experience," Ray Burton, Flint Police Chief said.

One of the five firefighters who was hired back on tells me despite the pay match he would have still rejoined the flint fire department.

"The wages aren't really the biggest importance right now. It's actually the community and the lives that we have in the city that we need to serve and protect. So, someone has to do the job, why not be me," Trenton Finley, a returning firefighter said.

Typically firefighters who decide to leave the department, for any reason, are required to start completely over if they're given the chance to return. This time around, Chief Burton says they were able to get the 'ok' from the local 352 firefighters union.

"They set up a policy where they can write a letter to me stating they're interested in coming back and as long as I say I approve of it they don't have to go through the whole written test or physical agility test.. as long as it's been under two years," Chief Burton said.

Chief Burton tells Mid-Michigan NOW anyone returning to the department under the two years is considered a re-hire as opposed to a new hire. The chief says the money to pay them was already available.

"When I did my budget for the year, they were included in my budget. So, that rate of pay was already included," he said.

However, their department seniority will remain at a new employees level according to Chief Burton. Rehired firefighter Trenton Finley says it wouldn't make a difference.

"As long as I'm here to do my job, serve and protect the people, touch lives, save lives, and prevent fires from happening.. that all makes me happy at the end of the day," Finley said.

Chief Burton says the department was at 71 firefighters prior to hiring these five rehires Now, he tells Mid-Michigan NOW they're looking to hire seven more.

The Flint Fire Department is budgeted for 83 firefighters.