Tag: Fire protection
City insisted Fire Captains get 10 percent
At meeting today with Fire union members, we were told that the union sought an 8 percent across-the-board raise for all ranks during the negotiations…
Staffing comparison
How does Pensacola Fire Department staffing compare with Port Orange: Fire Chief: Port Orange 1 – Pensacola 1 Division Chief: Port Orange 4 – Pensacola…
Pensacola Fire Expensive
According to US Census, Pensacola has a population, as of July 2006, of 53,248. Port Orange has 54,851. Margate has 55,974. Sarasota has 52,942. Pensacola…
Bait and Switch: City fire fees
The first of a series of attempts by local government to switch from property taxes to a flat fees is about to occur if the…
Unified Fire Service delayed two more years
The delays and stall tactics continue. This time its at the county level with fire protection. Last June, a citizen task force advised the county…
Firefighter letter to BOCC
From the Firefighters Union: August 22, 2007 Dear Commissioner, Since March ‘07, the Escambia County Professional Firefighters Union has presented the County with numerous unsafe…
More than just smoke
Firefighting in Escambia County is in shambles. You can spin it a dozen different ways. You can pit the paid firefighters union against the volunteers….
Audit Findings – Significant Potential Liability
From the report by the Escambia Clerk of Courts: We believe the volunteer fire departments are misinterpreting the Firefighter I exemptions granted by the State,…
VFD Audit – Draft Copy
The Escambia County Clerk of Courts office has finished its audit of the volunteer fire departments and submitted a draft of its findings to County…
County ready to improve fire safety
From Editor Duwayne Escobedo: With dozens of volunteer and career firefighters in the audience at today’s Escambia County Commission meeting, all five commissioners expressed support…
Draft: Fire Safety Committee makes recommendations
The special committee appointed by the Escambia Co. Commissioners to review fire safety is about to announce their recommendations. This is a draft and hasn’t…
State Fire Marshall letter
We finally received a copy of the letter from the State Fire Marshall on his investigation of the Escambia County Volunteer Fire Departments. There are…
Firefighters – blog debate is being heard
The advisory committee that is examining the Escambia County fire safety system is finishing its report. County commissioners will get it in the next two-three…
Prediction: Daily will cover VFD by late May
Our sources are telling us that the Escambia County fire safety issues – particularly the volunteer fire departments – are coming to a head. The…
State Fire Marshall is coming
The State Fire Marshall is sending an investigator to examine training and certification of Escambia County volunteer firefighters, sources says. The career firefighters’ union alleges…
PNJ watch -six days and counting
still no story on the Escambia County volunteer firefighters. Since we wrote on the problems, WEAR TV 3 has done at least 3 reports. WUWF…
PNJ watch – four days and counting
The PNJ has still not reported anything about Escambia County firefighters…which was covered by every other news outlet in the area – except WCOA (surprise?)….
Why care about VFD
The blog has taken off on the Escambia County fire protection issue. Some regular blog readers have emailed me on why have I gotten so…
WEAR TV follows up on VFD
…still no news coverage from PNJ. Friday’s follow-up: Firefighter Audit Follow-up An Escambia Volunteer Fire Chief says he wants taxpayers to know what it would…
Why no quotes from full-time firefighters?
You will not see any professional, full-time, paid firefighters quoted on WEAR or in the PNJ (if they ever write the story). A gag order…
