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Booneville fire chief lays out five-year staffing plan, urges hiring to meet safety standards
Summary
Fire Chief Tim told the Boonville City Council that current two-person engine staffing prevents safe interior fire attack and recommended hiring six firefighter-EMTs over two years to reach four per shift; he asked the council to approve one new position in this year’s budget.
Tim, Booneville’s fire chief, told the City Council on Feb. 2 that the department’s current two-person engine staffing frequently leaves crews unable to begin interior fire operations until additional personnel arrive.
“We actually have one person at the fire scene right now,” Tim said, describing how staffing forces one crew member to remain at the pump while the other works the scene. He told councilors that National Fire Protection Association and OSHA-recommended practices mean four personnel are the baseline to perform interior attack and rescue safely.
The chief presented a five-year strategic plan that calls for hiring six full-time firefighter-EMTs over the next two years to produce four personnel per shift at Station 1 and to improve response capability. He also recommended planning for a second station, a dedicated training and burn-tower facility, and expanded training hours to lift the department’s ISO rating and operational capacity.
“If we have three to four individuals on a truck, you have one person that starts initiating care,” Tim said, arguing that 72% of the department’s calls are medical and that additional on‑duty EMTs would improve patient care and scene management.
Council members pressed on cost and timing. The city administrator warned hiring will be a “mighty lift” for the budget and that adding full staffing and equipment for a second station could require roughly 12 additional full‑time positions and substantial recurring dollars. Council discussion also noted roughly $80,000 as a planning figure for the total annual cost of adding one full-time firefighter-EMT (salary, benefits and insurance), a round figure the chief and administrator used for budgeting conversation.
The chief emphasized mutual aid remains important but is not a substitute for locally available initial staffing during the critical first five to eight minutes of a fire.
Councilors responded that public safety investments should be prioritized; the mayor thanked the chief for the detailed data and the chief said he would send the strategic plan and supporting materials to councilors.
The council recorded that one additional full-time position is included in the current budget draft, and the administrator said detailed budget ordinances and proposed water and sewer rates will appear for first reading at the next meeting.
