Comments on: ‘Brown Out’ Plan Might Temporarily Close Two Fire Stations; Commissioners Disagree Over Firefighter Pay, Volunteer Value

By: OhYouKnow

OhYouKnow — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 13:25:45 +0000

God Bless Volunteers. All Stations should have a core professional firefighter compliment. We pay the taxes for this.

By: Rasheed Jackson

Rasheed Jackson — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 18:18:39 +0000

For all the people who are slamming the volunteers, let us remember they were the ones that built the fire departments from the ground up. They are the ones that fought to get the county funding. Before that they were the ones doing fundraisers to raise money to purchase equipment. They were the ones that answered the calls in the middle of the night and many times were up all night then went to work the next day on their paying job. They were the ones that gave up time with their families on holidays and family gatherings to answer the call to help a total stranger. They were the ones that went door to door asking for donations to help keep their stations open. They were the ones that used their personal vehicles to get to fires and many times paid for their own training. Many times, they used their own personal vacation time to train.

So, to all the volunteer fire fighters out there then and now, thank you for your service, dedication and willingness to serve your community!!

By: Dj Stone

Dj Stone — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 03:27:35 +0000

How many more citizens have to suffer due to lack of response? Career firefighters have been the best thing to happen to the citizens. Volunteers have a place and are valued however, If volunteers were adequate, career firefighters would not have been put in place. Terribly disheartening watching the lack of support from PAID politicians…. When is enough, enough?

By: SueB

SueB — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 15:09:14 +0000

Take the 4% gas hike from the failed Escambia Bus System for Fire Fighters!

By: Paramedic

Paramedic — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 03:24:52 +0000

EMS has been “browned out” for months now. Running with a skeleton crew holding calls nearly non stop. Turnover is out of hand. It’s a miracle if a crew gets to go home on time.

By: Not Enough Indians

Not Enough Indians — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 21:26:05 +0000

As a recent’ish “former” Volunteer Fire Chief ….. I can tell you just how the volunteers feel valued….. especially since circa 2000 and beyond..

By: I question Molino pt. 2

I question Molino pt. 2 — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 18:09:13 +0000

All training is funneled through the training office and emails are disseminated equally to all members of ecfr.
Once again the physical requirements are set forth from a national standard. Every other Fire department in the area and region has a physical ability test that a candidate must pass prior to engaging and firefighting operations.
The unification plan was brought forth by fire admin and the offer for paid on call personnel to Ride along with a career crew has been an open door for the last several years. The rhetoric that you are providing is misinformation.
As far as paid on call and career firefighters being treated equally is
sof thousands of dollars that doesn’t sit well with me and I guarantee it wouldn’t sit well with other taxpayers.

By: mom

mom — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 18:06:08 +0000

That’s just great! Let our houses burn down because our elected officials want to fight over stupid stuff!

By: Common sense/ Facts

Common sense/ Facts — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 18:03:59 +0000

Anybody touting “volunteers” are the answer, tell me why the only reason that fire stations are staffed with paid firemen is because of the fact that the volunteers have let houses burn down, people and children die because no volunteer responded to the call. For example, the only reason Ferry Pass had a career crew put in is because there were two houses around the corner from the station that burned down without a single volunteer response from that fire house which was “volunteer only” at the time. . Station 16 had a person die around the corner from the firehouse during a structure fire where no one from the “volunteer only” station responded. Oh and let’s not forget when 4 freaking kids died in a house fire in Brownsville because no one responded from “volunteer only” firehouse in that district. If there were capable volunteers who actually lived up to their commitments in these firehouses maybe these lives and houses may have stood a chance, and there would indeed be no need for paid firemen in these houses. But to that point, at least you know if you have a paid 24 Hour crew in these firehouses you don’t have to flip a coin to see if they are responding. It is guaranteed you will have an adequately trained crew responding to your emergency any time of day or night. And if anybody disagrees with this statement, you need to have your head checked. If it was your family member who suffered because no one responded from that firehouse, how would you feel knowing you could have only spent about 150-200 bucks A YEAR ( that is maximum 17 dollars a month) to know that they could have been saved by a fully staffed firehouse with a guaranteed response?

By: Who's is right

Who's is right — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:55:35 +0000

You are spot on about that. There have been improvements over the last few years but the improvements have been stagnant for quite some time. Fire engines that have over 100,000 miles on them and sometimes spend more time in the garage rather than on the road is a problem.