Comments on: Escambia Approves Firefighter Raises, $34 Million For New or Expanded Fire Stations http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:44:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chad http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566494 Chad Wed, 21 May 2025 00:02:31 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566494 Thank you to all involved who are making the happen. Doinga great job Chief fire officers of ESC F AND EMERGENCY SERVICE ! Thank you to all involved who are making the happen. Doinga great job Chief fire officers of ESC F AND EMERGENCY SERVICE !

]]> By: SueB http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566458 SueB Tue, 20 May 2025 15:32:28 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566458 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! 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!

]]> By: @Chris http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566406 @Chris Mon, 19 May 2025 23:21:31 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566406 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. 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.

]]> By: Chris http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566348 Chris Mon, 19 May 2025 06:31:46 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566348 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. 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.

]]> By: Zach http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566313 Zach Sun, 18 May 2025 20:02:38 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566313 $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. $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.

]]> By: Well http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566304 Well Sun, 18 May 2025 17:13:16 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566304 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. 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.

]]> By: Rob http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566294 Rob Sun, 18 May 2025 14:45:03 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566294 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. 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.

]]> By: Blaring Issue http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566289 Blaring Issue Sun, 18 May 2025 12:21:26 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566289 Fix the roads and traffic around here.... at least have the conversation. It's mostly from a 1960's plan... Fix the roads and traffic around here…. at least have the conversation. It’s mostly from a 1960’s plan…

]]> By: David Lamb http://www.northescambia.com/2025/05/escambia-approves-firefighter-raises-34-million-for-new-or-expanded-fire-stations/comment-page-1#comment-566280 David Lamb Sun, 18 May 2025 08:56:51 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=585823#comment-566280 Still not anywhere near what needs done in cwntral and north Escambia County to cover growth projected. Still not anywhere near what needs done in cwntral and north Escambia County to cover growth projected.

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