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Escambia Approves Firefighter Raises, $34 Million For New or Expanded Fire Stations
May 18, 2025
The Escambia County Commission has approved $34 million in unallocated Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds to build or expand five fire stations, enhancing fire protection in the county. Additionally, the commission has approved raises for firefighters.
The board approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Escambia County Professional Firefighters, raising the hourly wage for beginning firefighters to $16, an increase of $3 per hour. The increase will cost the county about $1.7 million annually.
The board also approved a plan presented by Commissioner Ashley Hofberger. Her proposal included the addition of a second fire station in Cantonment and living quarters to an existing station in Dogwood Park.
The plan aims to make the following improvements:
- 7209 Lillian Hwy – Replacement, $8.5 million
- New Fire Station 24, Highway 97 and Kingsfield Road in Cantonment, $6.5 million
- New Fire Station in Paradise Beach, $6.5 million on a site to be determined
- Replacement station at 9350 Gulf Beach Highway, $8.5 million
- Molino Station 21/Dogwood Park, 4307 White Ash Road, add living quarters, $4 million.
Hofberger identified the locations with the assistance of Escambia County Fire Chief Adam Harrison. Her proposed timeline includes issuing a request for proposals by June 1, proposal evaluation by August 1, and groundbreakings by March 1, 2026.
Hofberger’s motion to approve the plan was seconded by Commissioner Steven Barry, who noted that the plan may be too aggressive.
The commission is also considering a new firefighter training center in Brownsville, and a new fire station in District 3 (estimated at about $4 million, if a need is determined).
Pictured: Escambia County Fire Station 21 on Whish Ash Road in Dogwood Park. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “Escambia Approves Firefighter Raises, $34 Million For New or Expanded Fire Stations”
Thank you to all involved who are making the happen. Doinga great job Chief fire officers of ESC F AND EMERGENCY SERVICE !
Suggestion New Fire Station Paradise Beach, build on county property at NW sports complex on Bauer rd. Vs buying property on Bauer rd from the Navy. What a savings!
You’d be surprised at how many people apply to these jobs, checking multiple boxes that say they can do x y and z, only to show up to the interview and have zero idea what they signed up for! I think a lot of folks have a very different image in their head of what it takes to be a firefighter, especially the demanding physical requirements of the job. I do think the right course of action is to get them (and hey, EMTs while we’re at it) better wages to retain the good ones- otherwise, us taxpayers have to pay to train a whole new person after the job opens up because it doesn’t pay the bills. And brother, it costs way more to hire a new guy than it does to retain one.
And yet, the county gets so many wonderful applicants that they are extremely selective with whom they let in. With such low pay, I wonder why that is ? Never once have even heard how the county was having a hard time finding volunteer firefighters. Retaining the best, sure, finding qualified, not a problem. Risking life daily? Technically perhaps. If on the way to a call, that 20-30 ton behemoth crashes into a similar behemoth, then yea. For the most part, they don’t run into fires on the daily. And before I get all the brainiac attacks, yes I’m aware of all the other instances they can lose life however, also not encountered on the daily.
$3 raise to starting wages of $16 an hour??? What is up with the bargaining teams now days? This is just my opinion but isn’t that super low pay for someone who is risking their life every day to ensure public safety? Seems like the union needs to put on some more “Bargaining” classes for their local reps! Not a single person alive can survive on $16 dollars an hour these days. Doesn’t seem like much of a negotiation in my opinion.
What’s up with the Dogwood Park station? $4 million for living quarters?
It would be cheaper to build all four firefighters a $400,000 home for living quarters.
That pay increase is just moving the pay scale up off of minimum wage.
It’s a shame that we are paying people to save our lives and property minimum wage.
Fix the roads and traffic around here…. at least have the conversation. It’s mostly from a 1960’s plan…
Still not anywhere near what needs done in cwntral and north Escambia County to cover growth projected.