Future Concerns

Escambia County’s fire service has made great strides over the past twenty (20) years. No longer a conglomeration of individual fire departments operating homemade fire trucks out of tin sheds and barns, Escambia County Fire-Rescue is a multi-million dollar per year operation, one that will depend on dedicated volunteer and career personnel to respond to over 14,000 calls for fire, rescue, and emergency medical help this year. This must be accomplished on an annual budget of approximately $5.3 million. Nearly six (6) years ago, the Blue Ribbon Task Force identified the average fire service budget in counties of comparable population as $7.3 million. Operating on a lean budget, the County Fire Chief and his staff must ensure that fire-rescue services are being operated as efficiently as possible. Establishing centralized purchasing authority through the County Fire Chief’s office, and countywide standardization of common fire department equipment and supplies will help ensure financial accountability and thriftiness. In addition, the future warehousing of bulk items and operational supplies will greatly reduce costs and provide for rapid disbursement.

Though career firefighters are providing a regional daytime response during the week, volunteer firefighters are still heavily relied upon to respond to emergencies throughout Escambia County every day and night. Unfortunately, the County is experiencing the same trend as the rest of the United States, a decline in the number of active volunteer firefighters. In some districts, manpower shortages, extreme response times, or lack of any response has become too common. Programs that better utilize the County’s volunteer resources and provide for recognition and incentives will need to be implemented. The Escambia County Fire Chief and his staff will strive to utilize the efforts of volunteer personnel to the greatest extent. However, the 1983 Blue Ribbon Task Force final report stated, "we feel the existing volunteer fire protection system is adequate for at least he next five (5) years, with proper funding. This does not mean however, that we all agree the volunteer system will work forever".

As the fire service continues to evolve in Escambia County, we ask the Board of County Commissioners to stand beside those firefighters and officers, volunteer and career, that continue to implement change for the betterment and well-being of Escambia County’s citizens, and to dismiss those individuals that would discredit the County’s fire service and its leadership for personal gain or individualism.