County fire service targets overtime

Proposed 'brownouts' would briefly ground paramedic, fire companies

By HEATHER RAWLYK, Staff Writer

Published 11/10/09

Looking for ways to control overtime pay, the county Fire Department is considering a strategy that would put paramedic and engine companies out of service at selected fire stations when manpower is needed elsewhere, according to a memorandum obtained by The Capital.

The unapproved memo from county Fire Chief J. Robert Ray was sent to county fire personnel Friday but then rescinded hours later.

The memo featured a budget and overtime reduction plan that would include a spending freeze, restrictions on carryover leave use, and limits on the number of daily overtime shifts.

Division Chief Michael Cox, a county...

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out of service - 2009-11-18 13:06:53

Putting fire equipment out of service can be tricky business. What are the guidelines? Do you take ladder companies out of service first? They're usually the most expensive to operate but can take longer to respond. Engine companies are alway needed on a fire unless the department operates Quints for ladders so they're hard to do without. Difficult to figure out how this doesn't increase risk. Wonder what it will do the AA county's ISO rating? The current economic conditions weren't all that much of a surprise. Sounds like someone didn't do their planning -- or the planning they did wasn't accounted for in the budget.

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Bill Rathburn - Golden, Co - Karma: Neutral

SAVE MONEY!!!! - 2009-11-11 18:29:52

Why not start at the top and take away some of the county owned vehicles from the people who don't need them. All the medics and fireman hace to drive their own cars back and forth to work why not the chiefs???? The stations have vehicles they can use for "official" business. And where is the money that the fire dept charges now for transports??? I understand its in the millions???? Some ones pocket is getting pretty loaded up. Hittin those at the bottom of the food chain shows just how management feels about it's employees.

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stuart weiss - stevensville, MD - Karma: Neutral

Saving money - 2009-11-11 08:07:56

Turning engines off would actually cost more money. A diesel engine uses very little fuel while idleing and would use more fuel to restart. It would also delay redeployment. Why not bring back casino nights as fund raisers for the local fire departments? This would drasticly reduce the amount of funds needed for equipment replacement. When casino nights were legal, prior to Paris Glenspending's ban, there were ample funds for equipment. Hire more fire personnel to help eliminate the use of overtime.

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Robin Stanek - Churchton, MD - Karma: Good

Saving Money: - 2009-11-10 20:38:20

Why dont the Engines and Other non medical apparatus turn their engines off when on a medical call? That would save money and help the environment.

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bob bobby - pasadena, md - Karma: Neutral

overtime - 2009-11-10 19:12:00

These men and women have learned to rely on overtime as part of their base pay. Let them keep it and find other cost cutting methods until such time as we all try and recover from these economic tough times. Perhaps we may wish to look at cutting all unnecessary expenses attached to management personnel and ways of saving fuel and other material costs.

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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible

The Response Time - 2009-11-10 17:59:43

Are you crazy Cathy Vitale? Response time would definetly change. If there was a water resuce, small kitchen fire, or cardiac incident, and your closest station was closed, wouldnt you want service? Wouldn't you want help? Response time would definetly change. IF Station 13 (Riviera Beach) would close for the day and the closest station is Station 11 (Orchard Beach), and the bridge is up then you will be sorry when you are injured or need help. Station 10 (Jacobsville) is the next closest, if they were on a car call, then your response time would definetly change. People may suffer due to the closing of stations for the day.

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bob bobby - pasadena, md - Karma: Neutral