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Fire department details pay gains, new stations, training center and equipment plans after MSTU increase
Summary
Orange County Fire Rescue outlined an expanded FY2026 budget to support recent wage increases, purchase replacement vehicles and gear, open new stations and pilot virtual‑reality training after the county’s decision last year to raise the Fire MSTU.
Orange County Fire Rescue came before the Board July 16 to present a FY2026 plan focused on building out resources that county officials and the department say are necessary to sustain emergency response for a growing population.
The department told commissioners it will seek about $288 million for personnel services and $108.9 million for operations in FY2026 — a total FY26 fire budget near $397.7 million and an increase driven in part by pay and certification increases approved last year. The department also requested 36 new positions, most assigned to operations and logistics to support rising service demands in areas such as the I‑Drive/entertainment corridor.
Background and why it matters: Last year the board approved a 0.6 mill increase in the Fire MSTU (municipal service taxing unit) to fund long‑standing pay and equipment needs. Fire leadership said the change allowed multi‑year pay adjustments and made possible a multi‑year plan to replace aging apparatus and modernize stations. Fire Rescue also credited the board’s action with enabling the opening of a new training center used to launch an in‑house firefighter minimum standards academy.
Key planned actions - Pay and recruitment: Fire officials said department wages rose dramatically under recent contract actions and the department is pursuing a negotiated contract reflecting those increases. The proposed FY2026 personnel budget reflects pay, pension and staff additions. The department described a new in‑house academy aimed at training local recruits. - Facilities and stations: Funding requests include money to build permanent stations at locations already identified by the department (Fire Station 32 in the southwest, Station 31 in Dr. Phillips, Station 48 in Horizons West and Station 78 in Wyndham Lakes). The department said permanent stations will replace temporary or leased facilities and reduce response times in fast‑growing areas. - Fleet and equipment: The department plans to purchase 26 replacement emergency vehicles in the coming year and to continue a replacement program to reduce downtime and improve reliability. Fire Rescue also flagged investments in next‑generation personal protective equipment to reduce firefighter exposure to toxic chemicals (PFAS) and a ballistic equipment replacement schedule for tactical responses. - Training and innovation: The county has opened a new training center and the department plans to run its own minimum standards academy beginning this fall; Fire Rescue also plans a three‑year pilot of helmet‑mounted thermal/VR systems to help firefighters locate victims and improve safety. - Station security: The department said it will invest in fencing, lighting and cameras at stations following a national trend of property thefts at fire stations when crews are deployed.
Budget tradeoffs and next steps: Fire Rescue said it would maintain a reserve to handle disaster response costs and new equipment needs, and noted that the fire budget is a major driver in property‑tax supported spending. Commissioners voiced support but also asked for continued emphasis on accountability and community outreach. The department will present more granular budget materials in upcoming hearings; final appropriations are subject to the county’s FY2026 adoption schedule.
