Birmingham boosts number of firefighters with hiring incentives
AT SIX STARTS NOW. IN RECENT YEARS, THE NEED FOR FIREFIGHTERS HAS INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. WHILE SOME CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE PROFESSION. THIS IS A BIRMINGHAM FIRE AND THE RESCUE HAS BEEN LESS STAFFED IN SOME WAYS BUT THAT IS CHANGING. WVTM 13 JARVIS ROBERTSON JOINS US LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM TONIGHT TO EXPLAIN HOW RECENT ROOKIES LEAVE THE DEPARTMENT WITH A FULL LIST. YEAH, IAN AND BRITTANY, I’M TOLD DEMAND HAS STEADY INCREASED FOR BIRMINGHAM FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. NOW MORE MEN AND WOMEN ARE TAKING UP TO HELP MEET THESE CHALLENGES. AT THIS TIME WE CURRENTLY HAVE 78 RECRUITS IN TOTAL IN OUR ACADEMY AND BATTALION CHIEF TOBIAS JONES SAYS THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RECRUITING CLASSES. BIRMINGHAM FIRE AND RESCUE NEVER HAD. WHY WE BELIEVE IN AIR FROM A HOSE. 49 OF THEM HAVE RECENTLY PASSED THEIR CERTIFICATIONS OF FIREFIGHTERS ONE AND TWO. 35 OF THEM WILL BE IN OPERATION SOON BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST CLASSES WE HAVE EVER HAD AT A TIME, WHICH REDUCES STAFF STRESS A LITTLE. CURRENTLY WE ARE BUDGETATED AT A TOTAL OF 670 FIREFIGHTERS IN OUR BUDGET. THIS 78 PUT US AT NEARLY FOUR CAPACITIES. JONES SAYS MAYOR RANDALL WHITMAN WILL PROPOSE ADDING 37 MORE FIRE FIGHTERS WHICH WILL ENABLE BIRMINGHAM TO HAVE MORE THAN 700 FULL-TIME MEN AND WOMEN READY TO ANSWER THE CALL FOR ENTRY ON AN INWARDS SWING DOOR . THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS WAS INCENTIVE. $10,000 FOR AN EMPTY PARAMEDIC AND 5,000 FOR EMT ADVANCES. I ASKED HOW LONG WILL THE TRAINING PROCESS LAST? IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BEGIN. FROM ZERO WITHOUT TRAINING, THROUGH THE FIRE ACADEMY ABOUT 12 TO 15 WEEKS AND AGAIN FIVE WEEKS UNTIL EMT. SO WE’RE CONSIDERING BETWEEN 18 AND 20 WEEKS. THUS, FOR ANY PERSON CERTIFIED AS A FIRE FIGHTER, THEY WILL ALSO BE CERTIFIED AS AN EMT OR MEDIC. NOW, THOSE WHO PASSED THEIR CERTIFICATION LAST WEEK, ADDITIONAL 35 OF THEM WILL START WORK BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. AND WITH THIS, INSTEAD OF US GETTING MORE RECRUITS TO THE FIRE ACADEMY, YOU CAN STILL WIN ANYWHERE FROM $5,000 TO $10,000 JUST BY SIGHT AND OBJECTIVE. IE IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE REPORTING LIVE HERE IN BIRMINGHAM I AM JARV
Birmingham boosts number of firefighters with hiring incentives
Updated: 7:58 PM CST Jan 23, 2023
Birmingham Fire & Rescue is increasing the number of firefighters. Currently, there are 78 recruits in the fire academy. Just last week, 49 of them were certified as firefighters I and II. Demand has steadily increased for the department over the past 20 years, according to Battalion Chief Tobias Jones. He says 35 of the 49 will be operational by the end of January. “It’s something that takes a lot of dedication,” Jones said. Recruitment is crucial to fill the vacancy. You can see from the flyer below how much a person can earn when starting out. For those with current certifications, the salary increases. A person can get a bonus of $5,000 to $10,000 just by getting hired. Jones says they are starting an in-house paramedic school which will also help with recruiting. Please watch the video to learn more.
Birmingham Fire & Rescue is increasing the number of firefighters. Currently, there are 78 recruits in the fire academy. Just last week, 49 of them were certified as firefighters I and II.
Demand has steadily increased for the department over the past 20 years, according to Battalion Chief Tobias Jones. He says 35 of the 49 will be in operation by the end of January.
He says it’s the largest fire academy class they’ve ever had in the department’s history.
“It’s something that takes a lot of dedication,” Jones said.
Recruitment is crucial to fill the vacancy. You can see from the flyer below how much a person can earn when starting out. For those with current certifications, the salary increases. A person can get a bonus of $5,000 to $10,000 just by getting hired.
Jones says they are creating an in-house paramedic school which will also help with recruiting.
Please watch the video to learn more.
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