Overtime is under budget so far for Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, but not without a hitch.

CKFR’s staff of 75 firefighters and emergency medical technicians has been temporarily reduced to 70 due to three injuries and two staff vacancies.

The reduced staff is one of the reasons CKFR has spent $283,234 on overtime so far this year.

Overtime pay this year is expected to remain below the district’s total 2014 overtime budget of $388,697.

That figure is considerably lower than the $892,512 spent on overtime in 2013.

But the lower staff resulted in Station 64 — one of five stations staffed with career firefighters — being unstaffed 85 percent of the time in August and September, according to CKFR officials.

CKFR ideally staffs 25 firefighters per shift across five stations and uses overtime if the number on shift drops below a minimum of 17. Station 64 is only staffed if 19 or more firefighters are on duty.

Volunteer firefighters are always on call at the station, but the lack of paid staff can reduce response times or limit CKFR’s ability to back-up other stations.

In other district news:

• CKFR is not selling Station 64: Recently an article in the Kitsap Sun incorrectly stated that Station 64, located at 4065 Chico Way NW, might be sold.

CKFR stated in a press release that they have no plans to sell Station 64, but had considered selling the Central Supply Building, located next door.

• Ladder 51 truck repair to cost $18,000: A compartment door on the Ladder 51 fire engine was accidentally torn off in August when the vehicle was moved with the door open.

A replacement door has been painted and is expected to be installed in a couple weeks. The fire engine was purchased used in 2012 for $240,000.