Fire chief asks Moulton council for more firefighters

July 19--MOULTON -- Moulton Fire Chief Ryan Jolly said his department is in need of more full-time firefighters.

He presented the City Council with a 57-minute presentation at a work session Monday night detailing challenges facing the department and how more personnel will make firefighting safer for his staff and the community.

"I'm optimistic after talking with the council," he said Tuesday. "They were receptive. ... Once they evaluate the budget, we'll see if the funds are there.

"With our current staffing level, we're compromising safety of staff and citizens. We're well below industry staffing levels."

He asked the council for three more full-time firefighters.

"Inadequate staffing has a great impact on the initial fire attack," Jolly said. "There's only so much you can do with two people arriving at the scene. Our policy is we don't leave the station without two people. Increased staffing will allow us to get out the door faster."

He said three additional hires will cost the city about $153,000 annually.

That figure includes $119,000 for salaries, $16,500 for health insurance, $12,000 for equipment, $9,100 for Social Security and $8,200 for retirement, he said.

The Moulton Fire Department has four full-time firefighters working a 136-square-mile fire protection district, Jolly said. He said 10 to 15 volunteers play a vital role in response time, too. He said the number of volunteers "is like a roller coaster. They're up and they're down. Right now, we're at a high point. I try to recruit in the schools."

Volunteers are reimbursed $15 per call to help cover their gas and laundry. He said usually two to three volunteers help respond to daytime calls, and about six to seven work nighttime calls.

"I have seen the firemen in action. They respond to vehicle crashes," said Councilman Jason White, who is a state trooper. "I know (Jolly) holds a tight ship at the station."

Jolly said the extra hires are needed now. "This is a conversation we should have had with the council 20 years ago," said Jolly, who was appointed fire chief in 2007. "It's critical to the growth of this city. ... Quality of life can mean community safety, too."

"The presentation really opened my eyes about making the community safer," said Cassandra Lee, District 4 councilwoman. "Whether we hire one person or three, I believe they're needed."

Jolly said his department in 2016 responded to 349 calls, including 12 structure fires in Moulton and 18 secondary structure fires. He said the fire department has answered 158 calls so far in 2017.

He said his department provides assistance to Speake, Chalybeate, Hatton, Mount Hope and Caddo.

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