County Approves Fire Department Unification Plan

September 26, 2008

The Escambia County Commission approved the final plan to unify the county’s fire departments at a Thursday morning meeting.

The county’s 15 separate departments will be joined together as one unified department on October 1.

The revised plan allow firefighters without Firefighter I certification, the state’s most basic course level, to continue in their current positions until April 1, 2009, with exemption letters signed by their chiefs. The first draft of the plan would have demoted those firefighters to the level of firefighter trainee on October 1 and kept them from entering a fire zone. After April 1, firefighters will be required to complete a Firefighter I training course.

The plan also allows firefighter officers that do not meet the minimum job requirements for the position they hold to continue in that position for up to three years, giving them time to meet those certification and training requirements.

“We’ve come together on a good unification plan that involves both the career and volunteer side,” Troy Johnson, chief of the Bellview Fire Department said. Johnson was one of several firefighters from the south half of Escambia County to encourage the commission to pass the unification plan.

“I think this is good for the citizens to see the spirit of what we can do,” Commissioner Grover Robinson said, “to improve services and the efficiency of those services…I’m excited about the future of fire services in Escambia County.”

“I do believe too that it is time for a celebration,” Commissioner Marie Young said. “We look forward to having a celebration of one fire department in Escambia County.”

The plan passed 4-0, with Commissioner Gene Valentino absent.  The approval was followed by a standing ovation from commissioners and audience members.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News