Twelve Clifton firefighters celebrated the reopening of their fire station Sunday after the city reached an agreement with the firefighters' union and rehired the previously laid off workers.

Firefighters like Christopher Morris say they feel lucky to get their jobs back to support their families. The firefighters' union agreed to some givebacks in talks with city officials, including a two-week unpaid furlough. Union representatives say the city guaranteed no more Clifton firefighters would be laid off for a year.

"I'm excited and relieved," Morris says. "Relieved to have my job back and be able to support my family."

Residents in the community, like Ray Krenz, welcomed back the firefighters. According to Krenz, neighbors were concerned emergency response times would increase when the Clifton firehouse closed. The second-closest firehouse is more than a mile away.

"If someone was sick, they had a heart attack, needed oxygen, what are they supposed to do?" Krenz says. "This is within 1,000 feet of our homes here. This is very important."