Volunteer firefighters urge county to use insurance rebate funds, object to wording in interlocal fire agreement

David Baker, representing the Adams County Volunteer Firefighter Association, urged the Board of Supervisors during public comment to preserve the county’s working relationship with the city on fire protection and to direct insurance rebate funds to support volunteer fire departments.

Baker said a draft interlocal agreement between “this county and the city of Natchez concerning fire protection” uses language that, in his view, demeans volunteers and could limit their ability to act in rural emergencies. He told the board that the agreement as written does not include a total dollar figure for the period covered and asked supervisors to consider dedicating the insurance-rebate money to maintenance and equipment for volunteer companies.

“It's real simple fix,” Baker said. “You're going into next year's budget. You can set up the funds to maintain and fully support the volunteers with the money that you're getting from the state. It won't cost the county any other dollars unless something major happens.”

Baker described response-time risks for rural residents and the limited capacity of the city department for certain wildland fires, saying volunteers can often reach remote scenes faster. He gave examples of mobile homes that become fully involved within seven to 10 minutes and said that some volunteer trucks in the county are more than 20 years old and in need of repair or replacement. He also said he and others have occasionally cut gas lines and taken other emergency actions before city units can arrive.

Baker also raised concerns about a clause he said appears to assign volunteer departments a subordinate role on some incidents, calling that wording “demeaning” to volunteers who have decades of collective service. He proposed formalizing mutual-aid and maintenance arrangements and developing “mutual agreements” that clarify each entity’s responsibilities.

The speaker provided the board with copies of the interlocal agreement and related materials but did not state that the board had already approved any contract language. Supervisors responded in the meeting, thanking Baker for the presentation and noting that budget and contract details would be worked through during the county’s upcoming budget cycle. The transcript does not record a formal vote or directive to reallocate rebate funds during this meeting.

Why it matters: Volunteer fire departments provide front-line emergency response across much of Adams County’s rural area. The use of insurance rebate funds, language in interlocal agreements, and arrangements about who has authority on arrival affect equipment availability, insurance ratings for homeowners, and how quickly fires and medical emergencies are addressed in outlying neighborhoods.