SEBRING — If Highlands County is going to pay firefighters, the current volunteers want to get in line.
Not just for a paycheck, a survey revealed last week, but for training, health insurance, retirement benefits, recognition for service, and mileage or a stipend when they respond to emergencies.
Commissioners agreed in principle at a meeting Tuesday.
“Education is a no-brainer to me. Fire 1, Fire 2,” Commissioner Jim Brooks spoke about classes, examinations and certifications offered to beginning and intermediate firefighters. But the county may want commitments to keep trainees from accepting paid jobs in Orlando or higher-paid coastal departments.
More than 100 firefighters, trainees, lieutenants, captains and chiefs from nine of the 10 volunteer fire departments responded to online questions at SurveyMonkey. More than 50 percent of the respondents had more than five years of service.
Asked about their goals, 91 percent wanted to serve their community, 59 percent enjoyed the emergency services camaraderie, 15 percent want to become career firefighters, 21 percent want to become career firefighters and paramedics or EMTs, and 11 percent currently are paid by a fire department.
More than 77 percent believed a volunteer incentive program would help recruit volunteers, 83 percent thought incentives would retain volunteers, and 63 percent thought a program would encourage volunteerism.
Asked if they would be willing to volunteer for a shift schedule in exchange for training, certification or pay for firefighter 2, EMT or paramedic classes, 46 percent — 51 of the 110 respondents — said yes, 23 percent said no; the balance did not answer.
Incentives should be based on years as a firefighter or the number of calls they’ve responded to, about three-fourths of the respondents said.
On a question where more than one answer was accepted, 97 of the 105 respondents wanted retirement benefits.
If the county is willing to pay firefighters, West Sebring VFD Chief Scott Mann asked, “Why can’t we be take care of? I have been here 20 years. Give me some answers.”
“Maybe I’m missing something,” Brooks asked, “but you’re a volunteer. That means you’re working for nothing. But retirement is based on a percent of your income.” Commissioners could fund, say, $5,000 in a retirement account though, he suggested.
“A lot of retirements are offered are independent retirements,” County Administrator Fisher said. “A lot of cities have those. If the board wants us to explore private independent ones, we can look at those.” Commissioners did not direct her to do that.
“Can you make it retroactive?” Commissioner Ron Handley asked.
“No,” Fisher said.
“How about a set aside?” Commissioner Jack Richie asked, without explaining what that would mean.
“If we move forward, can we immediately start paying volunteers too,” Brooks asked. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“It depends on where you put the stations,” Mann said. Later in the conversation, commissioners preferred four paid fire stations, with one in the Sun ’n Lake of Sebring area. That’s in West Sebring VFD’s territory, which Mann opposed.
“That’s your personal comment, not the group?” Handley asked. Mann nodded.
One result of a joint fire-EMS study showed some VFDs are flush with money and volunteers — West Sebring is an example — and others aren’t.
Lake Placid VFD Chief Adam Hess said there are times when only one or two volunteers answer a fire call. When Venus Volunteer Fire Department is called for a fire, Chief Steve Irving must request another VFD to send a 3,000 gallon water truck. There are no hydrants, so a fire could be out of control before the water truck arrives from 25 miles away.
Commissioners nodded their unofficial assent to forming a single, countywide taxing district to pay for four fire stations with 24 firefighters on duty 24 hours a day. If they formally adopt that option in the future, the estimated cost is $1.6 million annually.
Commissioners could man each station with two-person crews or three firefighters. According to safety codes, two certified firefighters must be present before one can enter a burning building. Therefore, two is a minimum, Administrative Project Manager Chris Benson pointed out.
A two-person crew working one 12-hour shift at one station would cost $125,573. Each station would need four personnel and would cost $251,145. Five stations with 20 personnel, therefore, would cost $1,255,726.
If 24 hours are split among three shifts, a two-person crew on a 24-hour shift would need six people for one station and cost $131,826. Therefore, five stations with 30 firefighters would cost $1,977,397.
A three-person station on 12-hour shifts would need four personnel and cost $376,717 on a seven-day-a-week basis. Therefore, five stations with 20 personnel would cost $1,883,589.
A three-person, 24-hour station with three shifts would need nine people to operate one station, and the cost is estimated at $593,219. Five stations would cost about $2,966,096.
“We’re not closed minded to anything,” Brooks said. “I’ve said many a time, we’re not going to operate volunteer fire departments without volunteers. This is a gradual thing. We’re willing to explore.”
“We’ve got to have the funding in hand,” Handley pointed out.
“And to do that, we need to hire a consultant,” Brooks grimaced at the thought.
Eventually, fire and EMS personnel could cross train and work both jobs at the same station, commissioners have been told.
“I am personally hoping you would go for three (stations),” West Sebring VFD Assistant Chief Billy Kingston said. Several chiefs came forward to agree on that strategy, reasoning that if paid firefighters are hired, volunteers will disappear.
However, commissioners thought four stations and 36 personnel would be a better option that would cost about $2.4 million annually.
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