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September 16, 2005
Modest pay proposed for volunteer firefightersEMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR SEEKS TO OFFER INCENTIVES
By PHILLIP GOMEZ
"It is extremely difficult to attract and keep dedicated volunteers," Jones said. "Currently the volunteer firefighters get $0 for going out and protecting our lives and property. ... I believe that they should get a basic 'run' fee based upon their level of training." Currently, volunteer firefighters are not compensated. "It's just a little something, a token to show the county's appreciation," he said. "Most of them will tell you that they do it because they care." But they also need encouragement with incentive pay in order to do their jobs in a professional manner, with professional knowledge. Jones wants to pay entry-level firefighters $15 per emergency run under his incentive plan; Firefighters, Class I, would get $20 per run; Firefighters, Class II, would earn $25 per run; and Firefighters, Class I or II with EMT-B or EMT-I training, would be entitled to $30 per run under the plan. "All necessary paperwork pertaining to each run must be turned into Nye County Emergency Services for payment to be made," Jones said. Calls responded to that proved to be false alarms, with no services rendered, would pay each participant $10 each regardless of classification. "The increased level of compensation per level of training will generate incentive to keep improving training levels within the (town fire) departments," Jones said. "The estimated cost for this program would be approximately $17,500 each year." Jones also would like to see an incentive program for finishing emergency training, something that isn't happening right now. "Half of the EMTs quit before completing training," he said. It takes 110 hours of training and another 110 hours of hospital residency before getting certified. Under Jones' proposal, if a volunteer completes any of the following training classes, he or she would be compensated accordingly: • Entry-level firefighter, $25 • Firefighter I training, $50 • Firefighter II training, $75 • First Responder training, $25 • EMT-B training, $75 • EMT-I training, $100 • HAZMAT awareness training, $15 • HAZMAT operations training, $50 • HAZMAT technician training, $75 Volunteers would not be paid until completing classes and being certified as employed with a department of Nye County. Jones said the highest estimated cost of the training incentive program would be $8,500 annually. Fire chiefs, too, should be compensated, Jones said. He proposed that fire chiefs be paid $125 per month for their added responsibilities in their oversight of the incentive program. Jones said he would develop the criteria, protocols and requirements for compensation under the program. Fire chiefs or station captains paid by their departments would not be eligible for participation in the program, he said. Only in Pahrump are firefighters and paramedics paid - and only in Pahrump is fire-rescue services handled by the town and not the county. Still, there are volunteers used in Nye County's largest town and they would also be eligible for the per-response pay. The estimated cost for this administrative dimension of the program is $15,000, Jones said. The Nye County Board of Commissioners did not immediately approve the budget increase request. |
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