Flagler County hopes to add 15 new Fire Rescue positions

Palm Coast Observer
News

Flagler County Fire Rescue hopes to add 15 additional firefighter paramedics, and the county is applying for a grant that could help fund those positions for the first few years.

"The Fire Department is considerably understaffed, to the point that we’re having trouble complying with the requirements in state legislation and in the fire code on the number of people that we respond with."

— JERRY CAMERON, Flagler County administrator

"The Fire Department is considerably understaffed, to the point that we’re having trouble complying with the requirements in state legislation and in the fire code on the number of people that we respond with," County Administrator Jerry Cameron told Flagler County commissioners at a June 1 commission meeting. "In addition, the lack of staffing is beginning to really impact our overtime budget."

Fire rescue staffing is third on the county administration's list of priorities, he said; at the top of the list is implementing the results of the county's salary survey, and second is "getting our fund balance to a minimally healthy point."

Fire Chief Don Petito said the county intends to hire the new firefighter paramedics over several years.

"To me, this is common sense to say yes," Commissioner Charlie Ericksen said about the county administration's request to ratify the grant. "We have an obligation to maintain fire safety … I think we need to take every chance we have to get some of this free money."

The county submitted a request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program on May 26.

The grant would be a three-year match, with the grant portion gradually decreasing: In the first year, the county would receive $1,137,570; in the second year, the county would receive $853,177, and in the third year, it would receive $398,149.

The county would ordinarily be obligated to contribute 25% percent of the actual costs in the first and second years of the grant; and 65 percent in the third year of the grant. Due to COVID-19, the federal government has waived the 25% match requirement for the first year.

The County Commission voted unanimously to ratify the grant application.