Reedy Creek firefighters say they need help responding to Disney World incidents

The union representing Reedy Creek Fire Department says it needs a few extra hands to respond to the growing number of guests at Disney World.

WKMG reported the firefighters' plea for the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the governing jurisdiction for the land owned by Disney, to increase their support earlier today. With the launch of the theme park's Star Wars-themed complex at Hollywood Studios and the Disney Skyliner transportation system, the department fears it'll be too much for the firefighters to handle if an incident were to occur in the near future.

"Disney's doing a great job of expanding their infrastructure with hotels and parks and things like that, but we feel like the Reedy Creek Improvement District is not keeping up with the public safety aspect of increasing firefighters on the ground," Aaron Colburn, 2nd vice president of the Reedy Creek Firefighters Local 2117, told WKMG.

Colburn adds: "We haven't expanded our staffing as a fire department – for firefighters – since 1989."

When the department chief most recently requested an additional 40 staffers, the district declined, according to WKMG.

Orlando Weekly reached out to Disney and Reedy Creek Improvement District for additional comment. We'll update the story when we hear back.

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