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Fire chief warns call volume surge drives overtime; council seeks accurate staffing data
Summary
Port Arthur’s fire chief told council rising call volume and training requirements have pushed overtime high; council members asked for corrected staffing numbers and an insert with accurate headcounts.
The Port Arthur Fire Department’s request for a $1 million overtime allowance drew questioning from council members on Tuesday after the fire chief explained that call volume has risen dramatically and training and certification requirements increase personnel needs.
The chief told council the department has grown from roughly 1,200 calls a year to between 18,000 and 20,000 calls annually, driving higher equipment maintenance and overtime expenses. He said the department has mandatory continuing education, technical rescue, HAZMAT and EMS training that consume staff time.
During the workshop councilors said the staffing numbers in the proposed budget did not match the department’s records. The chief said the department has 118 total employees, including 6 battalion chiefs, 1 deputy fire chief, 35 captains, 32 engineers, 1 fire marshal and 39 firefighters, plus administrative staff. Several councilors asked for an immediate insert with corrected staffing figures so the council can judge overtime requests against accurate personnel counts.
Council members discussed options to reduce overtime, including hiring more personnel and reviewing overtime allocations and training schedules. The chief cautioned that at typical daily staffing levels (about 33 on-shift per shift, 27 minimum staffing) vacancies, sickness or injuries rapidly reduce coverage and force overtime or other measures.
No budget action was taken; council asked staff to provide corrected staffing numbers and an updated insert reflecting the department’s true current headcount.
