RIGA, Oct 20 (LETA) - The State Fire and Rescue Service will temporarily suspend operation of 18 less busy fire stations until the end of the year, as the service's chief Oskars Abolins told reporters on Thursday.

The Fire and Rescue Service will suspend operations of fire stations in Roja, Sabile, Piltene, Alsunga, Jaunjelgava, Nereta, Eleja, Akniste, Viesite, Auce, Bulduri, Baldone, Cesvaine, Varaklani, Mazsalaca, Strenci, Zilupe and Tilza, said Abolins.

Firefighters working at these fire stations will not be laid off but transferred to other structural units of the Fire and Rescue Service. The service will make every effort to ensure transportation to the new service locations for employees at said fire stations.

The Fire and Rescue Service will try to minimize the impact of the temporarily closure of the 18 fire stations on other fire stations' response times.

Some fire stations could be closed again next year, but this will depend on financing available to the Fire and Rescue Service.