Gastonia firefighters say low salaries are causing people to quit the department, leaving fire stations in remote areas understaffed.
More than 75 firefighters showed up to protest these and other work conditions Tuesday at Gastonia's City Council meeting. The firefighters wore red T-shirts as a sign of solidarity and spoke through a local attorney for fear of retribution.
"A lot of times when they go to personnel meetings, their demands fall on deaf ears," said local attorney Wade Carpenter. "We wanted it done publicly so people could hear their demands."
Firefighters said that at least four stations that cover the northeast and southwest parts of Gastonia are understaffed.
Federal regulations require that at least four firefighters should be at a fire, but often only three are at a station when it gets a call, firefighters said.
It's always been a problem, said City Manager Ed Munn.
"If we could, we would like to have four on every route," he said. "It would provide a better service. Can we afford it? That's the question."
The regulation, mandated by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, dictates that if two firefighters enter a burning structure, another two should be waiting outside to help. The rule was created to ensure firefighters' safety, but it can be broken if a firefighter needs to rescue someone, said Juan Santos, a N.C. Department of Labor spokesman. A city can be cited by OSHA if someone reports the violation.
Given the understaffing, it's possible that firefighters' lives could be in danger if they put themselves in unsafe situations, said Gastonia Fire Chief Kenneth Lay. To compensate, the department sends additional trucks from another station to a fire to ensure a minimum number of firefighters, he said.
Lay, hired in April, said these concerns came up as he met with firefighters.
"Some of those things aren't really a shock because it happens in every fire department in every city," said Lay, who came from Jackson, Tenn.
Gastonia firefighters also are rankled because they say their salary is one of the lowest compared to at least 18 other cities the size of Gastonia -- which has a population of more than 68,000 -- or smaller. A Gastonia firefighter who has been with the department three years makes an average of almost $26,000, while a beginner firefighter in the city of Monroe, which has a population of almost 30,000, makes almost $29,000, according to the N.C. League of Municipalities.
City Manager Ed Munn said after Tuesday's meeting that he plans to analyze salaries at all city departments to make sure everyone is paid fairly and that the city remains competitive. He added that Gastonia employees should also look at total compensation, because they receive free health care if they apply for the basic plan.
Lay, meanwhile, said he plans to talk more in-depth with firefighters next week about their concerns. Manpower issues are out of his hands because they're tied to finances, Lay said, adding that he can make changes regarding things such as testing procedures and promotions.
"I'm in agreement with the issues," he said, "but at the same time, I have to look at them, weigh them and prioritize."
Distributed by the Associated Press
