Greenwood Development News

Fire Department Explores Paid Shift Work to Boost Availability

The council discussed the potential implementation of a paid shift work system for firefighters to address availability issues and improve response times, particularly during off-hours and weekends. This system would involve paying firefighters a nominal fee to guarantee their availability within city limits during their accepted shift, in addition to their regular pay for any calls responded to. The discussion also touched upon the challenges of recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters due to employment limitations and the increasing demand for medical calls, which are straining existing resources. The idea originated from ISO auditors who suggested similar successful models in other departments. The council expressed interest in a formal proposal detailing budget impacts and staffing needs.