Hendersonville panel recommends allowing off-duty firefighters at paid events; schedules briefing on 'Brady' presumptive cancer bill

The Hendersonville Public Safety Committee on March 11 voted to recommend Ordinance 2025-11, creating a mechanism for off-duty Henderson Fire Department personnel to work paid, after-hours events using department uniforms and a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). The committee also voted to send Resolution 2025-13, which invites an outside presenter to brief public-safety personnel on the so-called Brady Act presumptive-cancer provisions and establish a staff survey process, to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) with a positive recommendation.

Committee members said the new ordinance mirrors an existing practice for police officers and creates a clear process for parks events and privately organized tournaments to hire fire personnel when staff cannot cover assignments. A staff member explained: "This is a mechanism to allow fire personnel to work at our parks or after hours ... this would just carry over for the fire department." The staff member said the policy would authorize use of uniforms and the UTV for those assignments.

Fire Chief Bush provided the committee with operational and cost details, saying vendors would pay a flat fee of $75 per day for the…