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Volunteer fire departments highlight equipment, staffing and ISO needs in budget hearing
Summary
Representatives from Moberry, Flattop and Dallas Bay described equipment replacement needs, rising costs, and staffing challenges tied to volunteer/part‑time models; Moberry signaled a large ask (approx. $386,000) though they said they expected to adjust based on what the county provides.
Several volunteer and combination fire departments presented funding needs that officials said are driven by rising equipment costs, growth in service demand and the limits of volunteer or part‑time staffing models.
A representative for Moberry Fire Department described priorities including replacement apparatus, updated personal protective equipment and incentives for recruitment and retention; the presenter said the department had requested roughly $386,000 for the coming year while noting last year’s county funding was $165,884. The Moberry representative emphasized fast response times in mountainous districts and the role of the department in keeping property loss and insurance costs lower for residents.
Danny Welsh, fire chief of Flattop Fire Department, described local call profiles (highway accidents and medical calls), an aspiration to improve the department’s ISO rating with a new pumper/tanker vehicle (about a 2,000‑gallon tank) and the need to replace aging SCBAs and related safety gear. A Dallas Bay Fire & Rescue representative described a prior $650,000 loan used to buy SCBAs and raised concerns about escalating costs for trucks, insurance and fuel.
Commissioners praised the local departments’ service and acknowledged the budget pressure; no formal county action was taken during the hearing, and presenters said they would adjust plans based on final allocations.
