Comments on: Battle Over Future Of Escambia Fire Services Heats Up

By: Baconeater

Baconeater — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:57:43 +0000

I have been a Vol. In Escambia Co. for 20+ years. This whole issue has been coming to a head for sometime now and the powers that be have failed to address it. Several years ago when the Unification Agreement was signed there where provisions in it that stated County fire would provide and ensure proper training for the Vol. FF’s. This worked great for the first year or two but for the past 4 or 5 years there has been little if any training provided. The Paid crews do training all the time on vacant houses and buildings. Hardly ever is a Vol crew contacted and asked if they would like to join. They tell us that there are no qualified personnel to do the training. This is a bold face lie. I can count on two hands the number of paid and Vol. Firefighters that are more than qualified to do the training. But NO, The low little redhead step child Vol Firefighter is not allowed to. recruitment for Vol. Firefighters is a joke. A new applicant waits on average 60 to 90 days before the application is processed and sometimes longer, Once they reach there station its another 30 to 60 days before a physical is scheduled. And after that it’s sometimes a year or longer before a FF1 class is offered. Most become discouraged and quit by that time. Staffing is one of the top issues right now for the Vol. in this county. I can remember when each station had 30 to 40 members and some station like Sta7 and Sta6 had a waiting list for people wanting to join. Now we are lucky if theres 10 to 15 members at a station. All of this on top of how the Vol. has been treated paints a very nasty picture. I’ll give you one instance of the treatment…Sta3 Brent…A full time paid crew was placed in that station and some of the Vol. members stayed to assist. After a few years of there being both paid and Vol. FF at the station running calls, the Vol. FF’s where abruptly and rudely kicked out. A Batt chief (the same Batt Chief that was a long time Vol at that station and its Chief at one time) walk in and pretty much told them to pack there sh*t and get out. There not needed anymore. For far to long the Vol FF has had to eat Sh*t and say its delicious. No longer. It’s time to stand and fight. It’s time to end this sh*t show and get things back on track.

By: FOIII

FOIII — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 06:22:58 +0000

A few facts.
1. The county fire administration has spent $0 in the last 3 years on recruiting. They say it’s up to the volunteers to recruit. The same volunteers that spend 40+ hours a week running calls now needs to spend time recruiting. Not to mention those guys are firefighters, not recruiters or marketing professionals.
2. The county fire administration says they “don’t have enough certified instructors to train personnel.” And yet they expect volunteer numbers to replenish once they hire from the volunteer ranks. And where is our volunteer coordinator in all of this publicity?
3. The county fire chief is responsible for filling fire trucks and to throw volunteer stations under the bus on TV is disGRACEful to the position.
4. If medical calls are becoming the load of our firefighters then by golly hire some more EMS units. Simple math.
5. Volunteers are questioning their worth right now in escambia county. How in world has our “system” gone this far as to make them feel like this. Who is next? Our military? Wake up escambia county. “W” street is closing the books on volunteerism and they are doing it via union and our local news television station.
6. The volunteers have been threatened by the fire administration of losing their positions if they talk to the media or commissioners. The paid guys have union representation that let’s them bypass their administration.
7. Want to know what happens after our fire tax gets increased? Google “Jacksonville Fire Department Bankruptcy”
8. As someone stated below, fire fighters don’t prevent fires. Most of you do not know that Escambia only has 1 fire prevention officer and he only works part time. Rumor is he is resigning. 1 guy covering the entire county. Rediculous.
9. Call your commissioners today and let them know the problems have been going on for years. And it all begins and ends on W street.

It’s high time for a W street purge and ALL (paid and volly) of the firefighters to demand change.

By: sam stewart

sam stewart — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 16:06:07 +0000

I was a volunteer fireman for 20 years my dad was chief for 15.He always said when they first started the paid fire fighters and having to be certified it be the down fall of the fire service I belive he was right.Its not New York fire Its volunteer stop try ing to make it new York city.when union get involved you can look for stuff to go to crap.they need to get rid of all the union and county chief and start over

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 06:20:55 +0000

Let the governor pay them like he does his corrections officers pay them lowest salary in the country and never give them raises and to make extra money they can ride around on the fire trucks and sAle gently used fire extinguishers

By: Molino Dad

Molino Dad — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 02:52:46 +0000

If Pat Grace considers a truck fully staffed you need four firefighters on board , then the Question is : why is century station at times only ran with three paid Firefighters? I know that this is not the only station that has ran with only three firefighters. Don’t down the volunteers, I know several that have the certs to be a paid firefighter but choose to volunteer. For everyone downing the paid firefighter they all are not out to get rid of volunteers . I admit some may have that goal but that’s not true for all. I know cantonment is fully paid they work hand and hand with Molino several times , if you seen them in action you can not tell who is paid or who is volunteer. They both do the job very well.

By: AJ Harris

AJ Harris — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 02:03:47 +0000

EMS does not speak for the vast majority of EMS across the area. (this is my opinion, and those that I know who have read this is disgust) They are very proud of both the “Volunteers” & the “Paid” Firefighters. They are happy to have them anytime they come out. BOTH of them. They can not do it alone.

EMS, leave the politics to the politicians and don’t speak for everyone in EMS.

Firefighters: THANK YOU. EMS Appreciates you!

By: Scarlett Ruger

Scarlett Ruger — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 00:07:14 +0000

“if its such a small price to pay then NICK GRADIA can pay mine”

Shoot the messenger, right?

My roommate is a “career firefighter” and until I met him I had no idea what all they did. I didn’t know that every time 911 is called, the alarms go off at the fire station to respond, whether it is a fire or a chest pain call or if there is a “chirping” of a smoke alarm, or if paramedics need assistance picking up a patient , or if it is an MVA to use Jaws of Life to cut someone out of a wreck. They are there. Mind you whether it is 30 degrees or 100 degrees outside, they are wearing their “Bunker Gear” that weighs 70 pounds (I challenge you to try out for the Volunteer Fire Fighter position…LOL Good luck!!). Most times there are multiple stations responding, and even though the alarm was at 3:00am and they were half way there, and they were cancelled, they are still there!! They turn around and go back to the station. They bunk down and wait for the next call. No rest for the weary.

So my gentile observation on having “Nick Gradia” pay “your portion” of the MSBU is preposterous. Asking “Volunteers” to work a normal job and deal with every call is absurd. So either suck it up and pay for professionals to save your life or volunteer yourself and help out.

Buck up camper!!!!

I can help you apply for a volunteer position if you like.

By: Nay

Nay — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 00:04:53 +0000

Before we allow the county to take any more of our $, know some facts & let the county know how you, as a taxpayer feel. As mentioned before, don’t let the commissioners spend our $ without a voice. I too am still upset they put a 4 cent tax on my gas for a private bus company.
•Do you live in a volunteer or paid district? •How much you pay for fire services on your yearly taxes? •Is it fair to pay the same amount as every other district regardless of paid or volunteer? •Do you expect a standard of service through out the county? •Is this a structure system issue the FD must try to resolve internally before $ is thrown at a problem?
•Would you prefer the FD union speak for you?? If not :
•Know your district’s commissioner.
•Attend the meetings (April 23rd for fire services review) or contact your commissioner via phone or email prior with your opinion.
http://www.myescambia.com has all the contact information

By: EMS

EMS — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 21:19:07 +0000

I do know the facts that the paid firefighters don’t go to all medical calls and that they are getting EMT and Paramedic pay. If you read my comment I don’t once say that none of the county fire departments run medical calls. If you had a EMS Unit staged all the time in Molino Mom the Station 18 would not under the county policy of time frame for EMS to be on scene other than MVA’s would not get called out to medical calls.

By: Dukes

Dukes — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 05:37:25 +0000

Neither Paid or Volunteer crews “Prevent Fires”. They put them out. The problems seem to stem from the amount of calls increasing throughout the county. I know this might sound like I’m misguided or ignorant to some, but perhaps attempting better education on fire prevention to the public, more awareness on the benefits of smoke detectors and fire alarms. Perhaps we try to move toward the reduction of fires instead of the increase in taxes and paid firefighters. I’m not saying to ” do away ” with anyone’s job or role. I’m simply saying before we spend taxes in the upper 10 million dollars per year, let’s think out of the box and try to do something productive with the “PEOPLES” money and educate more, devote more time to installing smoke detectors and fire alarms. We used to really push fire safety in schools, townhall meetings, church fellowships, social events and public functions. Maybe if we reduce the amount of ” critical calls” we can lighten the demand load on departments throughout the entire county. Let’s get back to being public servants again. That goes from the TOP man to the BOTTOM man.