Officials address overtime in Fire Department Overtime wages soared for some Warren firefighters in 2020. Officials said it was the result of vacant positions and operational changes implemented to ensure the department could continue to function during the pandemic at contractually obligated levels. Photo by Brian Louwers Advertisement WARREN — Overtime pay put a group of firefighters among the city of Warren’s top earners in 2020. Administration officials said annual wages that “approached or exceeded $200,000” in some cases were the result of vacant positions and restructured deployments, implemented to ensure the continued operation of emergency services during the coronavirus pandemic with staffing at contractually obligated levels.